Gathering

On Saturday 17th September 2022 at its site in West Norfolk, Wild Ken Hill will host Gathering - a new one-day festival which will celebrate the natural world.

Well-known writers, authors, speakers and creatives will enthral, entertain and inspire our audiences about the natural world, through vibrant discussion, Q&A, readings, workshops and performances.

Environmentalist, broadcaster, and writer Mary Colwell will talk to her work with Curlew, Britain's most endangered wading bird, which is being conserved at Wild Ken Hill through a headstarting project. Benedict Macdonald, author of Rebirding and forthcoming Cornerstones, will join Tony Juniper - Chairman of Natural England in discussion on nature recovery in the UK. Biologist turned naturalist and writer Dr. Amy-Jane Beer will speak to her forthcoming book The Flow and lead a walk into the Wild Ken Hill woods.

Gathering will cover a broad spectrum of themes from rewilding and food production to wellbeing and creativity, all examined and celebrated in Wild Ken Hill meadows and woodlands with views of the coast.

Large canvas tents will host keynote discussions and performances. For example, author Sarah Langford will chair a discussion on the future of food and farming featuring farmers such as Helen Browning, Chairman of the Soil Association and food entrepreneur and farmer William Kendall. Smaller tents around Gathering will provide more intimate spaces for readings, workshops, film-viewing, and other experiences in nature.

Other participants will include Lee Schofield (conservationist and author), Nick Acheson (conservationist and author), Rebecca Schiller (author, journalist, and campaigner), and Jake Fiennes (conservationist and author).

Gathering will feature a selection of guided tours into woodlands and beaver habitat across Wild Ken Hill, available throughout the day. There will also be expert workshops, such as ‘Creating writing in Nature' with author Nicola Chester, and a wellbeing offering comprising yoga, meditation, sound baths, massages and sauna.

Families can enjoy activities in a general children's area, as well as booking onto sessions at Little WILDlings Forest School, where children are given the freedom to explore and play in the woods. A selection of local food and drink vendors will serve Sri Lankan dishes, sourdough pizza, Hawaii-inspired poke, flatbreads, and much more. There will also be coffee and bars.

Price: £0-55

Location: Wild Ken Hill, Snettisham, Norfolk, PE31 7PQ

More information

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Why not stay at Deepdale Camping & Rooms for 'Gathering'