Wirral Festival of Firsts 2018 includes a theme of Open Spaces – there are over 240 across the peninsula! On Sunday 13th May I’m leading a Poetry Picnic at Royden Park, which will include walking and writing using aspects of mapmaking for inspiration. Book via this link.

Please bring with you a notebook/paper and pen/pencil (or note-taking device) and wear suitable footwear for walking around the park and common. Royden Park has a mix of gravelled paths, grass, compacted earth, leaf/pineneedle, tree roots, heather/bracken and sandstone surfaces – some may be slippy and there might be some muddy patches. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us, but be prepared for showers, depending on the forecast. The cafe serves food but you may prefer to bring a packed lunch and drinks.

The plan is to explore the park after our opening session – for those wanting a level surface, the walled garden, lake and path to Dawpool Farm & Tearooms are good choices. Anyone feeling braver might like to join me on a circular walk up to the trig point and back. This walk goes through a number of different ‘landscapes’ and is a gentle climb with one or two small scrambles (where there are usually alternative short detours as an option).

Following our explorations we will meet back at the Visitors’ Centre for lunch and writing time. I hope you find the area and the ideas we discuss an inspiration.