Writer and creative practitioner Bernadette McBride is offering a range of nature-inspired creative writing workshops, sound walks and day retreats this Autumn in the North West region.
Bernadette won an award for the Biggest Impact on the City of Liverpool for her workshops, and has seen first hand the benefits writing for wellbeing combined with engaging in nature can have for those who have attended past events – particularly during the pandemic. With an uncertain autumn and winter ahead, Bernadette has launched a new programme of events designed to bring joy and wonder and encourage people to try writing and get out and about in green spaces.
The first two main events will see her working with Eden Tearoom & Galleries in Newburgh, West Lancashire. She hosts a nature writing workshop on Sunday September 5th which will draw on Eden’s August to October 2021 exhibition: ‘Inspired by the North West’ featuring a mixture of artwork based on northwest cityscapes and countryside.  Then follows a woodland outdoor creative day retreat at the magical Whirligig Woods in Cheshire on Saturday October 2nd, the home of Wild Rumpus CIC and Just So Festival.

As there is a lack of diversity in nature writing and associated education, Bernadette is keen to offer several free places for those from underrepresented backgrounds, through her social enterprise Hedge Arts CIC. See individual event links for details.
All events will be in small groups. In addition to the in person events, Bernadette will be offering a range of sound walks in and around Liverpool, the North West and further afield. Listeners will be able to follow a map via an app for a set nature walk created by Bernadette, aided by audio and images she has added, including associated creative writing prompts along the way. The sound walks will range from Hale Head, Allerton Country Walk, Liverpool Parks, Sefton and Wirral coastlines, to the more quirky, lesser known and off the beaten track, exploring edge lands and reclaiming forgotten spaces. The sound walks enable users to access them in their own time, alone or with company. More news on these is coming shortly.
Bernadette is keen to hear from organisations who have green spaces or garden areas and would be interested in working together to host similar events for 2022.
Nature Writing Workshop at Eden Tearoom & Galleries – Sunday 5th Sep:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eden-nature-writing-workshop-tickets-164828248729
Woodland outdoor creative day retreat at Whirligig Woods – Saturday 2nd Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/woodland-creative-day-retreat-tickets-166432832081