Poetry in the Shropshire Hills

The Shropshire Hills have inspired poets from A E Housman (author of a Shropshire Lad), to the many contemporary poets who have chosen to live here.

There’s an Emergency Poet, prescribing therapeutic verses from a converted ambulance, and even two poetry publishers, Fair Acre Press and Offa’s Press.

The celebrated Wenlock Poetry Festival is taking a break, but there’s still plenty going on. Indeed, the area’s poets have a set up a Shropshire Hills Poetry Facebook page and Twitter handle to make sure everyone knows what’s happening.

Just a few of the poetry events to watch out for include a regular poetry breakfast and poetry and knitting sessions, at Wenlock Books, Much Wenlock.

There’s a regular Open Mic event that features local poets and guests from further afield at the Poetry Lounge, in the Sitting Room, at the Blue Boar Pub, Ludlow. These are on the first Tuesday of every other month, at 7.30pm. There are eight reading slots each time, so room for eight poets with eight minutes each! Everybody is very welcome, and 2018 sessions are in March, May, July, September and November. For more information contact Jean Atkin.

Bank House, in Bishop’s Castle, hosts poetry workshops from time to time.

This product has been developed as part of the Shropshire Hills Tourism Cooperation Project, funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under the auspices of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The project is delivered by Gravity Consulting Ltd on behalf of Shropshire Hills and Ludlow Destination Management Partnership.