Early in spring this year, we were really pleased to welcome poet Ness Owen, along with our reserves officer Matt, and membership team member and event organiser Caroline, in leading a guided walk around our beautiful Nantporth Nature Reserve.

On an unseasonably warm April afternoon, a small group of us set off from Upper Bangor and headed down toward the water’s edge and into the dappled shady woodland, with views across the Strait to Menai Bridge that seemed a world away. 

Matt helped us identify the different species of tree here, and Ness, whose poetry collection Naming the Trees was published by Arachne Press in February, told us of the folklore and legends surrounding the trees.  We stopped to ponder along the way, some scribbling notes, and some taking photographs of this lovely place. 

A ramble along the tumbling and winding paths led us to a bright clearing for lunch at the end of our walk.  Ness read from her collection, and several of us shared short haiku*-inspired poems of trees and seas, and roots and healing.

• * A haiku is a short, Japanese poetic form with three lines and 17 syllables (5 in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the third). It often focuses on nature and seeks to capture a specific moment in time. Haiku are typically unrhymed and aim to evoke imagery and emotion with minimal words. 

Just a few below, we hope you enjoy them and feel inspired to join us on our next walk.