Art in the Orchard: Beginner's poetry workshop with Matthew Stoppard (Chapeltown)

Returning our words to the earth: Beginner's poetry workshop

Join poet Matthew Hedley Stoppard for a session exploring our connection to nature through significant memories and life events. Matthew will share his writing practices to help you structure your own poems, starting from a simple word or phrase to having a complete poem. This will be a celebration of experiences, hurt and immersion in wildlife.

By the end of the workshop, you will have a first draft of a poem, some of which will be written on seed paper and will become part of the landscape, and it will exist online, if you want to share it wider. 

Recommended for people aged 16+

About Matthew

Matthew Hedley Stoppard is from Derbyshire, but lives in West Yorkshire. His first collection, 'A Family Behind Glass', was a Guardian Readers' Book of the Year. His poems are widely published, and he has appeared on BBC Radio 3, 4 and 6Music. His second collection, 'The Garland King', explores working-class customs and traditions, and he is currently working on a third which will be a psycho-geographical hymn to North-East Derbyshire, published early 2027 and available from valleypressuk.com. 

About the organiser: Fruit Works Co-operative

Fruit Works Co-operative is a Leeds-based social enterprise working to build resilient local food systems and stronger communities through fruit tree planting and care. Our aim is to enable everyone in West Yorkshire to access beautiful orchards and opportunities to take part in growing, harvesting, and enjoying fruit within their local area.

Learn more: fruitworks.org.uk

Venue

Potternewton Community Orchard is best accessed by entering Potternewton Park from Avenue Hill where it meets Hilton Grove. Upon entering the park, the orchard will be directly ahead of you.

Google maps location

What3Words location: ///rarely.teams.dare

Please walk, cycle or use public transport if you can. The orchard can be reached on the 2/3/12/13 bus routes from Leeds City Centre. Bicycles can be stored safely inside the orchard. If you are driving, there is free on-street parking in the residential streets near the park.

Accessibility

The orchard is wheelchair accessible. There is a path running through the centre of the orchard, and the rest of the space is flat and grassy.

We will provide a range of seating options, including benches, picnic blankets, and fold-out chairs, to accommodate different comfort and mobility needs.

Maximum group size, including workshop facilitators: 12

Materials

All materials are provided. 

Food & Drink

Hot and cold drinks, biscuits and fruit will be provided.

About Art in the Orchard

Art in the Orchard is a project by Fruit Works Co-operative aiming to inspire connection to orchards through art. Between August and October 2026, we are hosting a series of free creative workshops in different community orchards across Leeds where participants will have the opportunity to learn and practise sketching, painting, singing and poetry writing while surrounded by fruit trees.

This project is part of the Seasons of Culture Programme funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Council through the Leeds Cultural Investment Programme.

Learn more: fruitworks.org.uk/art

Supporting Fruit Works Co-operative

This workshop is free to attend, but we welcome donations of £5-10 when booking your ticket to help support our work growing, planting and maintaining fruit trees.

If you have any questions about this workshop please email gini@fruitworks.org.uk