The Lit in Place St Davids Project has been led by creative writing facilitator Kerry Steed and delivered in partnership with EcoDewi, a Community Interest Company based in St David’s working to improve biodiversity and the natural environment across the peninsula.
Kerry led a wide range of inspiring workshop activities, and brought an array of artists, ecologists and other experts together to work across the community, including: Duke Al Durham, Nicola Davies, Jon Hudson, Lou Luddington and Susan Richardson. Workshops took place in the local school, at EcoDewi’s community garden and the Maes Glas Fryn meadow, on the coastpath near St David’s, and in a workshop space in the heart of the city.
Some of the overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants include:
“A wonderful workshop giving a new perspective on writing and looking at the natural world in a detailed and thoughtful / mindful way.” “Inspirational and thought provoking.” “Made me think about plants and my part in the world.” “Thought provoking in creating the opportunity to think and communicate outside the normal comfort zone – very worthwhile for me.” “Inspiring workshop, I’m really impressed by the community commitment and landlord’s generosity”.
Reflecting on the project as a whole, Kerry said: “EcoDewi and community members really engaged with the writing process – including those who, at the start of workshops, shared that they ‘didn’t consider themselves to be writers.’ The workshops enabled them to discover how writing can be a helpful, creative tool for exploring their relationship and experience with the local landscape, EcoDewi projects and the climate crisis. Their readiness to dive in and write was a highlight for me.”
A final sharing and celebration event will take place in the Autumn at EcoDewi’s community garden, with the unveiling of a new ceramic artwork, by local artist Rosemary Alderwick, which will feature a poem by Kerry Steed that draws on the creative writing and conversations that took place during the project.
