Try your hand at storytelling or writing inspired by Dartmoor wildflower meadows! With Lisa Schneidau (storyteller and author) and Su Bristow (herbalist and author).

Half-day workshops will be run in the morning (10am-1pm) and afternoon (2pm - 5pm) of Saturday 1st July. You can choose per workshop between storytelling or writing. If you want to do both, book for the morning and the afternoon!

Storytelling (Lisa): Telling a story is one of our most ancient crafts, and even our best-loved fairy tales started somewhere. Through listening, story games and prompts from the wild, you will create your very own new story at this workshop and learn tips and tricks to tell with confidence. Make your characters come alive, inspired by the natural world, and have a lot of fun in the process!

Writing (Su): It doesn’t matter what you’re writing. From poetry to memoir to thriller, the best work stands out because it takes you somewhere else. Whether or not you want to write about the natural world, including the evidence of your senses will bring your work to life. There will be the opportunity to share your work, and to receive feedback if you want it.

These workshops are supported by Moor Meadows, the Langaford Farm Trust and Literature Works.

We will make the most of Langaford's beautiful environment, going out to listen, feel, smell and experience besides simply seeing. Please bring appropriate clothes and footwear, as well as pens and paper.

About the workshop leaders

Su Bristow is a writer and a medical herbalist. Her non-fiction work includes ‘The Herbal Handbook’ and ‘The Herbal Medicine Chest’, and her debut novel ‘Sealskin’ won the 2013 Exeter Novel Prize and has been a bestseller many times on Amazon. Her second novel, ‘The Fair Folk,’ will be published in spring 2024.

Lisa Schneidau is a professional storyteller based in Chagford. Lisa works with schools, communities, festivals and nature organizations all over Britain, telling traditional stories about the land and our complex relationship with it. Her recent shows include Earth, Water, Fire, a collaborative performance about dragons and climate change in north Devon, and The World Tree, a storytelling all about the ash tree. She's the author of three bestselling folktale books: River Folk Tales, Woodland Folk Tales and Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland (all History Press). Lisa trained as an ecologist and has worked in British nature conservation for twenty five years.

Practical details and advice

Tickets are £12 per morning or afternoon workshop, with groups limited to a manageable size for feedback and sharing.

Suggested age 14+.

No dogs please.

Refreshments (tea / coffee / cake) will be provided - please bring a packed lunch if you are joining us over the lunch break (1-2pm).

The day will be held mostly outdoors in the natural environment, and undercover if the weather is wet. Please wear outdoor clothing and stout footwear, and sunhat / sunscreen / waterproof. Dartmoor weather can be unpredictable! Please also bring a notebook and pen, and a sense of humour.

When you book, please book a ticket according to whether you would be most interested in storytelling or writing in your workshop (each workshop will split into two groups after an initial joint session, so it helps us to get an idea of numbers). If you would like to do both, please book both a morning and an afternoon workshop ticket so that you can work with both Su and Lisa.

Details of the venue and directions will be sent through to ticket holders nearer the time.