Rewriting the Ravine and Poems in the Palm House: Nature Writing

Join local poet Emma Must for an active morning of hands-on nature writing.

You will begin at The Crescent then walk together to the Botanic Gardens, where we’ll stop in both the Tropical Ravine and the Palm House.

Please note that the walk will take approximately 14 minutes each way (0.6 miles) up a gentle hill on public pavements.

Paying close attention to the plants using your senses, you’ll be guided to write by responding to a series of prompts. Back at The Crescent (fortified with a cuppa from the café, if you wish) you’ll be given tips on how to shape and edit your notes, with some quiet time to do this.

Finally, you’ll have the option of reading out your piece to the group, if you wish. (Suitable for writers with any level of experience, or none.)

This workshop is for those 18+ years. The workshop will still take place even if inclement weather and we ask that you dress appropriately for the weather.

Please also do let us know if you have any accessibility or additional needs.

About the tutor

Emma Must  is a poet living in Belfast since 2011. She has more than a decade’s experience of facilitating creative writing workshops.

Formerly a full-time environmental campaigner, she holds a PhD in English (Creative Writing) from Queen’s University Belfast, focusing on eco-poetry. Her debut poetry collection, The Ballad of Yellow Wednesday (Valley Press), was longlisted for the Laurel Prize 2023 and Highly Commended in the Forward Prizes.

Her poem ‘Toll’ won the inaugural Environmental Defenders Prize in the Ginkgo Awards and her debut poetry pamphlet, Notes on the Use of the Austrian Scythe, won the Templar Portfolio Award.