In July I'll be poet in residence in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, and the programme for the month is now agreed. For 18 days we will have a tree of the day, following the Gaelic Tree Alphabet, with an event in the afternoon or evening to celebrate the link between trees and poetry.
Here's the plan (all dates are July).
- Birch - Beginning ceremony, Saturday 6 July, 3pm - 3.15pm, Real Life Science Studio
- Rowan - Taste of nature walk, Sunday 7, 3.30pm - 4.30pm, Meet at Real Life Science Studio, Gateway
- Alder - Outdoor poetry reading, Monday 8, 2pm - 4pm, look for signs on arrival. Bring a rug to sit on.
- Willow - Weaving with words, Wednesday 10, 2pm - 4pm, John Hope Gateway
- Ash - Tree folklore talk and poetry reading, Thursday 11, 7pm - 8.30pm, John Hope Gateway - access only via West Gate on Arboretum Place from 6.45pm
- Hawthorn - Rustle of leaves - a listening walk, Friday 12, 3.30pm - 4.30pm, Meet at John Hope Gateway
- Oak - Tree folklore and word play, Saturday 13, 2pm - 4pm, Oak Lawn - look for signs on arrival or a poet tying yellow ribbon round an old oak tree...
- Holly - Tree folklore and word play, Sunday 14, 2pm - 4pm, Oak Lawn - look for signs on arrival
- Hazel - Tree wisdom poetry workshop, Monday 15, 2pm - 4pm, Patrick Geddes Room, Gateway
- Bramble - Poetry buzz readings, Saturday 20, 2pm - 4pm, Around the Garden
- Ivy - Free tree hugging lessons, Sunday 21, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, Look for signs on arrival
- Blackthorn - Ouch! That prickles! A touchy-feely walk exploring textures around the garden, Monday 22, 3.30pm - 4.30pm, Meet at John Hope Gateway
- Elder - Workshop on growing new poems from cuttings, Tuesday 23, 2pm - 4pm, Patrick Geddes Room, Gateway
- Pine - Pines and poems from all around the world, Wednesday 24, 3.30pm - 4.30pm, Meet at John Hope Gateway
- Gorse - Gorse wine, Sloe gin, Heather ale and other drinking poems, Thursday 25, 7pm - 8.30pm, John Hope Gateway - access only via West Gate on Arboretum Place from 6.45pm
- Heather - If you're the size of a bee, heather's a big tree, kids event, Friday 26, 2pm - 4pm, John Hope Gateway
- Aspen - Renga: collaborative poetry writing, Saturday 27, 1pm - 5pm, Chinese Pavilion
- Yew - Gaelic Tree Alphabet ceremony, Sunday 28, 3.30pm - 4.30pm, Meet at John Hope Gateway
All welcome to come and join in! Hope to see some of you there. To find out more about the project, please contact Frances Hendron at the Scottish Poetry Library or Amy McDonald at the Botanics, or see the
Walking with Poets blog.
