Creative

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Changing Landscapes – Poetry Workshops

Harehill House, Littleborough

Fridays 10am to 12noon – 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th Sept, 3rd Oct

In September I will be leading a series of poetry workshops where we will look at the landscapes around Littleborough and the surrounding hills and moors. There will be plenty of inspiration, discussion and poetic hints and tips to enable participants to write some poetry to be proud of.

A flyer advertising the Changing Landscapes workshops

An anthology of poems created from these sessions will be published and distributed in a large print format making it accessible for people who might not be able to access poetry in the typical smaller print sizes. A launch event for the book will be announced once a date can be finalised and all contributing poets will have the chance to read some of their work at the launch.

Bookings are currently open. There is a charge of £25, payable at the first session, which covers the 5 workshops and a copy of the anthology. Places are limited and can be booked by emailing Liz White at: lizwhitecreative@gmail.com

One of the sessions, 12th September (weather permitting), will consist of a field trip to explore and discuss the local landscapes.

This project is supported with funding from Grantscape and organised by Liz White for Create and Connect.

A little bit more nature
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A little bit more nature

Sometimes nature can be the inspiration for making new images and sometimes it can inspire new creative writing. Recently I was thinking back to a time about 50 years ago when I was walking the last part of the journey to school and was distracted by a Merlin flying just a few yards away and parallel to the path. I’d never seen one before and it was genuinely stunning. A small bird of prey it was struggling in the face of a very strong wind so I was able to watch it closely for a while. I was a bit late for school but it is a memory I still treasure and I’ve never since seen a Merlin. That inspired the little poem below, and after that I couldn’t resist adding it with drawing into my nature journal.

Nature journal page by Seamus with poem and drawing of a Merlin made with coloured pencils and fountain pen.

Sometimes the idea comes from the image and then the words come along afterwards as was the case with this watercolour sketch and poem about a grey seal.

Nature journal page by Seamus with poem and watercolour of a grey seal

Not everything in the journal includes poetry and the spread below has a few little nuggets of folklore and myth along with 25 additional names for Digitalis, the plant we now call Foxglove. There watercolours were painted from one of the beautiful foxgloves that have been thriving in our garden in the last month.

Photo of a spread from my nature journal with pictures and text about foxgloves.

Poetry day at Hare Hill House, Littleborough
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Poetry day at Hare Hill House, Littleborough

Saturday 28th June 2025

We still have a few places left on our poetry workshops at Hare Hill House on Saturday 28th June.

Photo of the Bandstand at Hare Hill Park, Littleborough

There are two workshops to choose from both running from 10am to 12noon.

Becky May will be running a Contemporary Poetry session while I will running a Nature poetry session. The workshops cost just £5 per person and you can book by emailing Liz white – lizwhitecreative@gmail.com or myself – seamus@onepoetsvision.co.uk

After the workshops there will be poetry performances and then in the afternoon Yorkshire poet and author Gaia Holmes will be discussing her work, including her recently published collection of short stories “He used to do dangerous things”. The afternoon session is free of charge and all are welcome.

This promises to be an enjoyable and productive day of poetry in the historic Hare Hill House in Littleborough.

poetryworkshops #naturepoetry #naturewriting #contemporarypoetry #poetry #poetryperformance #authortalk @gaiaholmes73 @rochdale.creates @cartwheel_arts @rochdalelibrary @rochdalecouncil

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Love Nature, Love Words, Love Pictures

If you are a nature lover you probably already know how being outside among plants, trees and all kinds of wildlife, can help lift your mood and make you feel good. But did you know that recording your experiences, observations and thoughts can multiply those benefits?

Photo of the participants and facilitators for the nature journalling session, stood by woodland with a Culture Coop Random Acts of Art poster

Last weekend my wife, Maggie, and I ran nature journaling session at the Hollingworth Lake Country Park. We all had a great time with a nature work, tips for finding subjects to write about and a range of ways to make illustrations. The participants were shown how you can make a journal using various kinds of paper and they also learned some watercolour techniques to create a nice, and quick, illustration of bluebells.

One of our participants even climbed a tree while the other had a sit down in a den made of branches at the bottom of the tree.

Photo from the nature journalling session, showing participants during the activities
Photo from the nature journalling session, showing participants during the activities

We were really impressed by the enthusiasm, skills and knowledge of those people who came along and really happy to send them home with their own jounaling journey underway.

We were also delighted with the feedback, some of which is shown below:

“Want to do more”
“Lovely, awesome”
“Thanks very much for this afternoon. I really enjoyed it, much better than I thought I would. It has certainly inspired me and given me confidence to learn more and develop new skills.”
“Would be great if there was a journalling group”
“Loved seeing lots of different ways of making images”
“It was great to spend time on what’s meaningful”

Photo from the nature journalling session, showing participants during the activities
Photo from the nature journalling session, showing participants during the activities
Photo from the nature journalling session, showing participants during the activities

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Nature Writing Workshop – Thurs 24th October

A photo of the sun setting over a hill, with a few trees in Littleborough.

I’m really looking forward to delivering a brand new workshop on Nature Writing, this Thursday 24th October, for the Riverside Writing Group.

I have always had an insatiable interest in the natural world and from a young age have looked at, read about, drawn, and photographed nature. Much of my own writing looks at the way that human society and individuals interact with nature, both in positive and negative ways.

This workshop will look at what Nature Writing means, it will provide hints, inspiration and the opportunity to create some new work in any style, and of course it should be both enlightening and fun.

As always with Riverside Writers workshops this will be free of charge and takes place in Rochdale Central Library from 10am to 12noon. You don’t need any experience as a writer to take part nor do you need any expertise in the natural world – just a pen, paper and your thoughts. All welcome – the more the merrier!

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Fun in the “Plein air”

Last weekend’s painting competition in Hebden Bridge was actually great fun. There were about 40 artist in and around the town all producing pictures in a few hours. We were very lucky to have lovely weather which certainly benefitted all of those taking part. During the day many people stopped to talk about what the artists were doing and a good number of the artists had the chance to meet each other, and look at the work in progress whilst stretching legs and picking up refreshments from some of the excellent local cafés in the town.

At the end of the day there was a brief exhibition, the judging and awards, which all took place at Northlight Studios. The whole thing was organised by Greg from “Craft and Canvas” and were some excellent prizes from the shop and from Wallace Seymour who produce high quality paints for artists.

For my own part the proces of working with oil paint for the first time proved to be enjoyable and a great learning experience. I now have a completed A3 sized oil painting of the old footbridge in the middle of town and I’m pleased with it. A few weeks ago I wouldn’t have expected to try oil paints but now I’m busy deciding what to paint next.

Painting of the footbridge in Hebden Bridge
Here is my paining from the event
Some of the prize winning art from the day
Here are some of the winning pieces of artwork
One of the winning pieces painted on glass
This prize winning piece was painted onto glass letting the light shine through the painting
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Welcome to Rochdale – poem available online

Town Hall lit up with lights inside at dusk

I’m really pleased with the work that Royal Exchange Theatre and the local ambassadors, champions and the filmmaker have done with the words they commissioned for FestiDale. It was great to be involved in the project and the whole event was positive and uplifting – just the kind of creativity, art and entertainment that we need.

The film is now online and you can watch it on YouTube – Welcome to Rochdale on YouTube

and also on the Royal Exchange website – Link to Royal Exchange Community Rochdale Page

Now that the poem has been published in video form I am adding the text version here – I’d love to know what readers think – you can comment on this post.

Welcome to Rochdale

Welcome to Rochdale,
Nestled in the valley of the Roche,
beneath the mighty Blackstone Edge,
rooted in history, striding into the future,
an industrial giant of the Victorian age,
celebrated by our grand Gothic Town Hall.

Welcome to this borough of innovation.
History woven with silk, wool, cotton, kevlar,
and the glass fibre moulding for Concorde’s nose.
Welcome to the UK’s highest broad canal,
longest rail tunnel at Summit,
and the Worlds first railway tunnel in Healy Dell.

Welcome our green-award-winning offices,
library and Interchange on Riverside,
Be astonished by our ideas and sustainability!
Welcome to this home of innovation.

Welcome to the home of Samuel Bamford,
Weaver, poet and leader of marchers to Peter’s field,
and John Bright, radical, anti-slavery hero.
Welcome to the cotton famine road.

See our memorials, testament to sacrifice,
from our archers at Flodden, the fallen in the Boer War,
the Great War, World War Two and all conflicts since.
Remember them, and remember Fusilier Lee Rigby.

Welcome to Toad Lane, the home of cooperation,
a quiet rebellion against poverty and inequality,
that spread across the country, onto a world-wide stage.
“Each for all; and all for each”
	
Visit our stages, our performers.
See “Our Gracie’s” statue by the Town Hall,
Hear Lisa Stansfield, ‘All around the World”.
Watch Mike Harding, Steve Coogan,
spot top twitcher Bill Oddie,
soap stars Julie Goodyear, Anna Friel and Sue DeVaney.
Celebrate the Courteeners, and the “Stones” illicit concert behind the lake.
Celebrate our bands, singers, cloggers and dancers, placing Rochdale centre stage.

Celebrate our sports stars, on track and field.
Row, sail, paddle, or cruise aboard the Lady Katherine,
on Hollingworth Lake, where Captain Webb practiced to swim the Channel.
Celebrate Rochdale AFC, the Hornets, and our many sports clubs.
Celebrate European Cup winning Lioness, Kiera Walsh,
and World Champion cyclist Mandy Jones.

Cherish our churches, marvel at our mosques, meeting places and halls.
See our history, experience our present, and glimpse our future.

Welcome to a home to the peregrines, the lost, the wanderers, those with no place to go.
Meet the people who will speak with you and extend a hand of support.

Look at our communities, our buildings, our spaces.
Look to the sky, to our much-loved clock tower,
where the Peregrines raise their young.
We welcome them all, new sons and daughters of the Dale.

Welcome to Rochdale.

(c) Seamus Kelly 2024


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Poetry / Spoken Word Workshop – FestiDale – Friday 16th August 3.00pm to 5.00pm

image of a sunset with an autumn tree and lovely golden colours

I’ve created this workshop on behalf of Cartwheel Arts for FestiDale, from the Royal Exchange Theatre, at Kingsway Park High School in Rochdale.

The theme is “I come from” and participants will be able to write about the things that make us who we are, and most importantly the things that make us happy.

There will be examples, discussion, templates and support and your words can be shared with others at the session. This workshop is open to both new and experienced writers and all materials and support will be provided. You can book a place online on a pay what you feel basis (from only £1) on the FestiDale website https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/season/the-festidale/.

Looking forward to seeing and hearing the work that will be produced.


The Animal Olympics: Exciting Session at Junction Library in Middleton
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The Animal Olympics: Exciting Session at Junction Library in Middleton

Tomorrow I will be delivering my first session as part of this Summer’s HAF (Health, Activity and Food) programme for Your Trust at Junction Library in Middleton.

A picture of the Olympic rings with a line drawing of a different animal in each ring

The theme for these sessions is “The Animal Olympics”. Inspired by the recent Olympic Games in Paris the story and associated materials imagines an Olympic Games where the competitors are animals representing their countries.

There are competitors from the same continents taking part in events that are similar to those we have seen in Paris. Does everything go as planned? Who wins the medals?

All will become clear tomorrow and the children will be able to create their own versions and pictures. Promises to be a fun session.

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“Welcome to Rochdale” previews at FestiDale Launch

Last night, 7th August, saw the opening of the Royal Exchange Theatre’s FestiDale events in Rochdale.

I was delighted to hear my poem, Welcome to Rochdale”, performed by some of the local ambassadors and champions for the theatre, ahead of the opening speeches. The poem speaks of some of the history and innovations for which the town is famous and the social values that led to the formation of the cooperative movement, support for anti-slavery and welcoming new people to our community.

Members of the ambassadors and champions reading “Welcome to Rochdale”

I was really pleased by the reception my words received, and really impressed by the way the group performed the work. Shortly after the speeches we had a chance to watch the film of the poem and I am grateful for the performers, producers and film-maker, who made a really good film.

The large audience was welcomed by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillor Susan Smith, the CEO of the Royal Exchange Theatre and the Headteacher of Kingsway Park School. Ambassadors and Champions introduced the events that will be included in the festival and all were warmly welcomed by the audience. Full details of the program can be found at https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/season/the-festidale/ where you can also book for the various ticketed events.

Deputy Mayor Janet Easley and Cllr Susan Smith

Music for the evening was provided by Littleborough Brass Band and with food and mocktails from New Cooperators everyone had a good time and the festival is set for a successful and creative run from today to 18th August.

Beautiful Artwork from Nic , 16 Serendipity Lane - which will be on show throughout the festival.
Beautiful Artwork from Nic, 16 Serendipity Lane
Photo of myself (Seamus) having just watched the film of my poem in The Den.
Sitting in the Den after watching film version of my poem
My new poem heads into the world tonight
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My new poem heads into the world tonight

My last post spoke about a poem that I had just completed for a commission. The details of the commission and the poem itself have been kept quiet pending its release – but I have titled it “Welcome to Rochdale”. I cannot reveal the content until it is public but I can say that the poem, about people and places in Rochdale, is optimistically upbeat. When I received the commission I was asked to make something positive and I was able to say that my work in this case would be unrelentingly positive.

The commission came from The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and they were looking for a 3 minute poem to use for a film as part of “FestiDale” a festival celebrating creativity being held in Rochdale. Festidale opens tomorrow, Thursday 8th August, and all events are being held in Kingsway Park High School. You can find the full programme at https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/season/the-festidale/

As part of the festival I will also be running a creative writing workshop on behalf of Cartwheel Arts from 3.00pm to 5.00pm on Friday 16th August – places can be booked on the link above and you can choose to pay either £5, £3 or £1 for your online ticket.

The workshop is titled “I come from….” And will give people a chance, and encouragement, to write about origins, place, family etc. I’ll share some examples for people to hear and read to give a flavour of what can be done. Participants do not need to have written poetry before and I will introduce some basic techniques and ideas to get everyone going. I’ll also provide materials and draft structures so that people won’t need to bring anything along.

I’m looking forward to seeing the film of “Welcome to Rochdale” this evening at the special preview event. Of course as well as the exciting anticipation to see the piece performed on film by local ambassadors and champions of the Royal Exchange Theatre, there is always a little bit of nervousness: How will they have made the work look? Will the audiences like it? Once the film is made available online I will post a link here and on my social media channels.

Massive thanks to the Royal Exchange Theatre for commissioning me to write the poem and to Cartwheel Arts and Rochdale Development Agency for suggesting they should ask me.

More to follow after the launch.

Riverside Writers Summer Celebration – 13th July 2024
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Riverside Writers Summer Celebration – 13th July 2024

Everyone is welcome to our celebration of Summer and creative writing this Saturday, 13th July, from 10am at Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside, Rochdale. There is no need to book, just come along on the day.

This free event promises to be both informative and entertaining and a great opportunity to talk about creative writing and find out more about our writing group.

We are delighted to have a special guest speaker William Pollard, the author of a book about Rochdale’s lost female author M R Lahee who wrote at a time when women were not generally accepted as authors.

Close up of antique bound copies of Rochdale News

There will be poetry from members of the Riverside Writers, music from the U3A Choir, Heywood Ukulele Group and the Rossendale Clog Dancers.

From 2pm we will adjourn to Vicolo Del Vino, The Butts, Rochdale, for meat and potato or cheese and onion pie.

During the afternoon we will be hosting an open mic session with plenty of poetry, spoken word and perhaps some tunes too.