Writing the Quantocks

The pioneering Bristol poet Ralph Hoyte talks about his innovative Quantock Poetry Trail. Then he performs extracts from his Tropikos Quadrology, commissioned by the Arnolfini Gallery. Set in the 16th century – England’s bold ‘age of discovery’ – Tropikos follows a series of overlapping first-hand narratives, interweaving sound and poetry in a reimagining of some of the first British encounters with the peoples of Africa.

Fire River poet Graeme Ryan performs extracts from his powerful poem ‘The Dreaming of Hinkley Point’, with a compelling film show of abstract and landscape paintings of the Somerset coast by Minehead artist Georgina King. Coleridge gets a job at Hinkley Point. Graeme and Georgina’s beautifully illustrated book of the project will be on sale.

Watchet poet Anne Lovejoy reads poems composed on her walks in the Quantocks with her beloved dog Coco. Anne is an unforgettable and enthusiastic performer, and she’ll be accompanied by slides of the Quantock photographs that inspired her poems. Her book ‘Opening the Memory Box’ will be on sale.

Taunton poet Viv Grant reads her captivating tree ogham haiku and wordplay poems. Inspired by her meditative walks through the combes and ancient tracks of the Quantocks, she reconnects with the healing energies of the trees and the natural environment. She’ll be showing her tree staves, carved from trees (including oak, ash, rowan) that the Celts revered for their spiritual properties.

Justin Shepherd, Wiveliscombe classical guitarist and past Chair of the Friends of Coleridge, will provide musical interludes, including a piece from Bach and the beautiful ‘Farewell to Stromness’ by Peter Maxwell Davies.