A two-hour creative writing workshop using the river as its central thread — the River Isle on the doorstep, the mill's own water history running through the building, and the wider web of farmland, meadow, and human-built landscape that surrounds it. Participants will write into and through the river: its ecology, its memory, its disturbance, its restoration. 

Rivers - what flows through, over and alongside them. The water-born, the waterheld, the water-seekers, the water itself as carrier and life-supply.

Our waterways, their ecology and the biodiversity that they support are precious and vital.

• How do we connect with rivers?

• Do we use and observe or do we immerse, revere and protect?

• Can we integrate both?

• Are we at such an urgent point we should do everything we individually can to reduce our negative impact and become positive actors in the wider drive to effect change?

• And can writing support this?

Published writing on nature recovery and the intersection of humans and the environment has seen increasing growth and demand.

The reintroduction or translocation of species such as the beaver, the crane (Somerset) and the pine marten (Devon) stimulate public interest as does rewilding and heritage farming.

They bring both some hope and some positive potential steps towards nature recovery.

By hearing and reading some examples of writing on rivers and the natural environment, looking at art, photography and the Seeking Ecological Exhibition in the gallery and other source materials, we will consider the resonance of a river, how this resonates with us and how restoration can be two way.

We will reflect on different perspectives including the practical, scientific, historical, recreational, to how rivers have supported industry, craft and communities, and pool experiences and thoughts where wished.

We’ll experiment through short, informal writing exercises and prompts, some in a group, with discussion, and time to write individually.

Inspired by the river bank setting and the varied visual and written resources, you will be guided with methods to generate some short pieces of work in response. Constructive feedback will be on hand if you would like it and any sharing of work with the group is entirely optional.

A range of source books will be available to use for further inspiration during the workshop.

Coffee and other refreshments are available in the on-site cafe, and there are riverside seats to take in the silence and observe whilst writing (weather permitting). All levels are welcome, from beginner onwards and can encompass all genres and approaches. The workshop will be accessible and inclusive, friendly and supportive - we look forward to welcoming you.