Led by the Great North Wood nature-writer-in-residence, Amanda Tuke, with nature writer Helen Jones, this online workshop is aimed at adults (or family groups) who want to try out for the first time, or further develop, their creative nature writing. During the workshop you’ll have the opportunity to practise writing from your own experience, begin polishing your words and contribute to a collaborative creative writing project. This workshop is funded by the Arts Council National Lottery scheme and offered free to participants. Donations to the London Wildlife Trust are welcomed and can be made here. This workshop will be delivered online via Zoom with live captioning. For the writing activities, you can either type or use pen and paper.

Pre-workshop activity

Before the workshop, please spend between 10 to 20 minutes treasuring the natural world you can see, hear, smell or feel through a window, opening the window if you can. Even if the above activity is not accessible for you, please do still attend – you won’t be singled out and activity work-arounds will be suggested.

About the workshop leaders

Amanda Tuke is a nature writer, botanist and birder based in suburban south London. She contributes regularly to Bird Watching Magazine , the London Wildlife Trust blog and has written for BBC Countryfile and Resurgence & Ecologist Magazines. Amanda blogs about nature and her freelance nature-writing journey. Feedback from Amanda’s nature-writing workshops: “Brilliant tutor! Really inspiring.” “Very thoughtful and engaging workshop.” “Thank you for a lovely workshop earlier today. I really enjoyed it”.

Helen Jones is a disabled nature writer who lives in York. Having experienced periods of being housebound she has turned her focus to nature that lives alongside her. She also writes with awareness of her body and how it changes the way she interacts with nature. Unlocking Words.