A brand new festival is coming to Frome this September, bringing together authors, ideas and conversations exploring our connection with nature, the world around us and each other. Taking place from 19-20 September at RISE, Consider the Wondrous is a new collaboration between Tina Gaisford-Waller of Winstone’s Hunting Raven Books and author and bookseller Gareth Howell-Jones, […]
A chance to meet some of Frome’s most majestic trees, and hear about their history, legacy and lore from the arboreal expert Julian Hight, author of many books including the beautiful new The Ancient Tree Explorer. This will be an easy walk, lasting about 90 minutes. It will start at the Cheese and Grain (BA11 […]
Consider the Wondrous opens with festival Director Gareth Howell-Jones explaining how Consider the Wondrous came about, why it’s in Frome, what it is for, and what he hopes the project can begin to achieve. He’ll talk too about the simple but radical way of looking squarely at nature that underpins his books Do Not Call […]
“As cities grow, the danger is not only ecological but emotional... If we want a future that is not only liveable but meaningful, we must learn to care differently. That begins by paying attention – to the cracks in the pavements, the stories in trees, the silence that follows loss.” JC Niala Did you know […]
Horatio has always been a lover and close observer of nature. In 2018 he had a mental breakdown; he was fully, psychotically delusional. He wrote about that experience with great bravery in Heavy Light, and a wonderfully generous and informative guide to mental health and the paths to recovery in Your Journey, Your Way. Mental health is […]
Join urban naturalist and Wild Pavements author Amanda Tuke for a pavement plant prowl and hear some of the fascinating stories behind the urban plants we can find on our very doorsteps. What wonders might she discover in the famous leat running down Cheap St? What other hidden marvels do we ignore every day? Please note: […]
Rosa grew up in Peru with the rainforest as her back garden, learning its lessons from her grandmother, a native healer in natural medicine. Now as a biologist and conservationist, she re-explores the Amazon with a unique blend of scientific enquiry and ancient insight.In her book The Spirit of the Rainforest, we meet pink dolphins, […]
In Wilderlands, the archaeologist Eloise Kane takes us on a fascinating and unfamiliar tour through 12,000 years of our history. When the glaciers finally retreated at the end of the last Ice Age, our ancestors crossed the land-bridge from the continent and reinhabited these islands. There have been humans here ever since - working the land, […]
An unmissable conversation between two great bird enthusiasts. Jon Gower has loved birds since one of his collier grandfather’s canaries hatched in the palm of his hand. In Birdland, he travels Britain from Portland Bill to the Hebrides in search of kittiwakes, bustards and turtle doves as well as a remarkable cast of characters – poets, […]
A gala evening of words and music inspired by the natural world. End the day with flowing jazz, beauty, poignancy and rapture. From earliest times, human art and music has celebrated and sought to understand the mysterious world around us. We’re thrilled to have such a stellar line-up for this gala where human creativity reflects […]
A family event, great for budding young nature enthusiasts aged 7+. “Do you yearn to climb oak trees, to get a bird’s eye view of the world, to feel the wind of leaves? Can I show you the magic of nature? Let me take you on a journey. A wild wandering. A fascinating world awaits.” […]
Mark is one of the UK’s leading naturalists, author of many award-winning books. His newest title The Nature of Seeing is all about the way we look at our surroundings, so this is a wonderful opportunity to accompany him as he explores Rodden Meadow by the river near the centre of town. This will be an easy […]
