Finding nature in words: Creative writing and poetry for winter

Over the autumn, we were lucky to work with Beth Calverley and The Poetry Machine, supporting Somerset communities to use creative writing/poetry to capture and share experiences of nature inclusion and connecting with nature outside of themselves.

Beth Calverley of The Poetry Machine with a member of staff at Somerset Wildlife Trust

Through these sessions, by opening up a nature, wildlife and environmental conversation with each of us, Beth was able to capture a personal snapshot of our relationship with the rest of nature, our communities and sometimes our work and ourselves too.

Beth certainly inspired many of us to start or to keep writing about nature and wildlife, and what better time to do this than over winter?

Using words to reflect on our relationship with nature over time can be really special. This winter, why not capture the things you see, hear and feel in nature, and how they make you feel?

“Last year I started writing a poem each week. They were super short (often just 3 or 4 lines) that focused on what I was noticing and nature and how it was making me feel at that time. It helped me to really recognise when changes in the seasons were happening and which parts of nature (outside of myself) held meaning to me at that particular time of year!”

Kristen
Wilder Lives Manager, Somerset Wildlife Trust

You might notice details you’ve never spotted before, reflect on childhood experiences that shaped your discovery with the natural world, or even think about ways to support wildlife in your community. All you need is a notebook or a scrap of recycled paper and a pencil to get started – even just a few lines can capture a moment in nature.

To inspire your own writing, read or listen to Beth’s poem from our Wilder Together Event 2025, where people from across Somerset shared stories of nature inclusion and action for nature.

Share your winter nature writing - We’d love to see your poems or reflections! Send them to hello@somersetwildlife.org or tag us on social media.