The Prompted by Nature podcast is a series of interviews punctuated by meditations and writing prompts inspired by each conversation. It explores the connection between nature and creativity through story-telling.
Guests include Naturalists and Environmentalists, Herbalists, Botanists, Wildlife Experts, Therapists, Nature Writers and Photographers, Outdoor/Wilderness Guides, Artists, Climate Change Activists and so any more inspiring souls using their creativity to work in and with nature.
I'm thrilled to announce that Prompted by Nature has been shortlisted in the podcast category for a Bookshop.org Indie Champion Award. This was completely unexpected and I immediately felt sick when I got the initial email a couple of weeks ago!
I wanted to record a quick episode to share this news, and a little about my writing sabbatical, with you.
Thank you for listening and supporting this podcast. I'm so happy you're here; I'll be back soon (and remember you can always find me on Substack www.promptedbynature.substack.com (www.promptedbynature.substack.com) , on Instagram @prompted.by.nature (www.instagram.com/prompted.by.nature) and my bookshop.org shop is here: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/promptedbynature (https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/promptedbynature) )
And of course a HUGE thank you Bookshop.org for recognising the podcast and for having it on your shortlist - it means everyhing to me.
Sending you lots of love,
Helen x
17 Sept 2023
6.5a Lucy Power: Environmental Education through the Arts
Hello, welcome to series 6, episode 5 of the Prompted by Nature podcast. I’m your host, Helen, and this is the final episode for some time. I’ve made the difficult decision to put the podcast on ‘indefinite sabbatical’ so that I can be more present and consistent with my writing. I have a short solo episode coming up to talk about it but you can get all the updates on my Substack newsletter. Just search ‘Prompted by Nature’ on the app or website.
Onto today’s episode. Today, I’m speaking with Lucy Power from Rowanbank Environmental Arts & Education. This is a conversation we actually had before the summer and with summer holidays taking me away from anything other than my kids it fell by the wayside a little. I’m so happy to be releasing it now though as it’s full of hope and creativity.
Lucy is the director of Rowanbank. Rowanbank Environmental Arts & Education CIC is a social enterprise, combining science with the arts to bring people together to enjoy and learn how to better care for their environment. They engage people in an imaginative and inclusive way, helping them to connect with and experience the magic of nature.
Lucy is a Climate Ambassador with Climate Outreach, and has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship in creative climate communication and education. Lucy is a qualified Forest School Leader and an EcoHomes and BREEAM Assessor. Lucy is also an aerial performer and teacher for All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre and Dance Base, Scotland’s national centre for dance. Lucy has worked successfully with schools, community organisations, government agencies and the private sector.
In this conversation we discuss:
What Rowanbank is and how it came about
How Rowanbank merges art and science to make environmental education more accessible and exciting
The Natural Flights of Steps and the part it plays in Rowanbank
The importance of carbon literacy and finding a variety of ways to teach this
Rowanbank’s commitment to sustainable transport
Rowanbank’s collaborative approach to creating stories
Sustainable costume design
The advice she would give to her younger self
What she has coming up that she’s looking forward to
You can find Lucy on her website www.rowanbank.org.uk and social media @rowanbank_environmental_arts
Episodes that would go really well with this one are:
1.13a Dawn Nelson, Rewilding the Self through Storytelling
5.6a Angeline Morrison, Folk Music as Storytelling
5,10a Moya Lloyd, Building a Creative Community at the Boundary Way Project
As always I’m on Instagram @prompted.by.nature, on my website www.promptedbynature.co.uk and on Substack, where you can become a free or paid subscriber - Prompted by Nature.
I’ll be back soon with the writing prompt that accompanies this episode. Sending you lots of love. Happy listening and I’ll speak to you soon. Bye!
7 Aug 2023
6.4a Marchelle Farrell: 'Uprooting'
Hello! Welcome series 6 episode 4 of the Prompted by Nature podcast. I’m Helen, your host and today I’m thrilled to release a conversation I had earlier this week With Marchelle Farrell. Long-time listeners of the podcast will remember Marchelle from series 2 episode 10 - a conversation we recorded what feels like a lifetime ago, in November 2020.
Marchelle has a new book out, Uprooting, and it was wonderful to chat up with Marchelle and talk all things gardens and writing.
In this episode, we discuss:
What Marchelle has been up for over the past two years
Her new book, Uprooting, what’s about and how it came to be
The reciprocal nature of the garden
Redefining difficult conversations
The importance of grief and mourning
Non-verbal communication and writing
The creative advice she’d give her younger self
What she’s looking forward to
Uprooting has already won an award in the shape of the Nan Shepherd prize for underrepresented voices in nature writing. I urge you to read this book - it is profound and complex and explores Marchelle’s relationship with her garden as well as how these brings up connections to her beloved Trinidad.
Uprooting is out now in your local bookshop or library - and remember that you can always ask them to order it in if they don’t already stock it. Marchelle is usually to be found on Instagram under the handle @afroliage and on her website www.marchellefarrell.com (http://www.marchellefarrell.com) where you can find upcoming dates of her book tour and speaking events.
Just a little note that the connection was a little sketchy at times but I don’t think it affects meaning.
Episodes that would go well with this one:
2.10a - My Garden, My Teacher - Marchelle Farrell
6.1a - All My Wild Mothers - Victoria Bennett
5.9a Writing in Place - Kathryn Aalto
As always, I’m on instagram @prompted.by.nature or on the website www.promptedbynature.co.uk (http://www.promptedbynature.co.uk) . You can also sign up for my Substack on www.promptedbynature.substack.com (http://www.promptedbynature.substack.com)
Sending you lots of love.
Happy listening, and I’ll speak to you soon.
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