The intersection between gardens and poetry is one we return to time and again…

Since we created the garden at Quinton Old Rectory, we’ve been keen to use the garden as a launch place to explore the long standing connection between gardens, nature and poetry. Over the past few years, we’ve held a series of poetry-related events incorporating music, writing, readings, poetry through movement and more.

Our personal highlight was our Midsummer Garden Poetry Festival in 2022, a magical weekend packed with poetry-related events and headlined by the mighty Carol Ann Duffy

We’re always looking for new ways to incorporate poetry into the garden; as well as poetry-based events, we try to weave words through the garden in a very tangible way; you’ll find poetry board and quotes at various turns…

Our “garden laureate” (and good friend) David Oram pops in from time to time to update us on the progress of his poetry-based fairy story set on the garden’s faerie trail - a magical creation which we hope will one day be a best seller :)

2024 saw the publication of poetry pamphlet Twelve Poems: Quinton Old Rectory Garden Through the Seasons

Written by local poet Martin Johns over the course of 2023, we have copies available for sale at our open events.

We’re working on other poetry happenings in the garden this summer; check back soon to find out what we have coming up!

Oh, and if you’re keen to explore this connection further, talented garden writer and designer Tabi-Jackson-Gee wrote a guest blog for us on the relationship between gardens and poetry; click here to have a read