Alderman Peel High School:
“KS3 students at APHS thoroughly enjoyed their involvement with the Literature and Landscape festival. Many were enthusiastic to contribute creatively to the River poetry competition and our Year 8s had the honour of a visit to the Maltings for a workshop with Richard Lambert in October. The students were inspired by his writing workshop and it was a huge boost for all of those Year 8 students to receive a copy of his novel. One young man shared that his parents had bought him Richard’s second book for his birthday last week and he shared a paragraph of writing with me:”
– Joanna Doyle, Head of English
“Richard Lambert’s talk about the books was great. I had fun listening to the author about the idea of how to write books. He is great at writing books. I really want to meet him again because when reading Shadow Town, I felt like I was one of the characters. I was happy I got the book. Thank you. I want to write my own story and Richard made it sound so easy.”
Langham Village School:
“The Literature and Landscape project at Langham Village School was an inspiring and enriching experience.
The poetry competition provided an excellent opportunity for the children to express their creativity and explore the theme of rivers in depth. Having their work judged by the esteemed writer Robert Macfarlane added a sense of excitement and prestige. We were thrilled that one of our pupils received a “Highly Commended” award, which was a proud moment for our school community.
The hands-on river survey was a highlight for our Year 5 and 6 pupils. They were fully engaged in discovering the biodiversity of the River Stiffkey, fostering curiosity and a deeper connection with the local environment. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and sense of discovery during this activity.
Jess French’s author visit was truly inspiring. Her passion for the natural world and her storytelling about her experiences in the rainforest captivated the children. She shared invaluable insights about her career as a writer, motivating our students to think about their own aspirations
The generous gift of a copy each of Beastlands was very much appreciated. The children have enjoyed reading the book, and it has sparked meaningful discussions in class. It has also encouraged a love for reading and further exploration of nature themes.
Overall, the combination of creative, educational, and inspirational activities made this project a resounding success.”
– Mrs Polly Kossowicz, Head Teacher
Gresham’s School:
“I just wanted to say a big thank you for arranging Friday’s poetry workshop. Our Sixth Form pupils really enjoyed their session with the poet Richard Lambert. It was fantastic to hear a group of 16 year olds discussing poetry in the minibus on the way back to school. The big positive of the festival in my eyes is in getting them to hear a different voice and consider English in a non-classroom setting. One of our pupils wrote this:”
It was interesting to be challenged to write about something that I don’t often write about, whether that be an orange or a landscape. This resulted in finding a new voice within my poetry which I’m looking forward to exploring in more depth.
“Similarly, our Year 9 pupils embraced the poetry competition and wrote some excellent poems inspired by the landscape of North Norfolk. Thank you for the organisation and the invitation to take part in the festival – it is a wonderful thing to add to the cultural landscape of this part of the world. We look forward to being involved again in 2025.”
– Fergus Hardy, Head of English
Literature & Landscape 