We both love Acorn Bank at Temple Sowerby, and enjoy visiting in every season, but we particularly love late summer and early autumn, when the apple trees are full of fruit and the leaves are just starting to turn golden.
It was lovely to listen to some of Ratcliffe's poetry including T'Croodle Beck, recited in Yorkshire dialect. The volunteers opened the kitchen at Acorn Bank for the event, and there was a great deal of DUR material on display including lots of books and some manuscripts. It was fascinating to understand more about the woman and the writer, through her own words.
DUR’s writing holds a deep connection to nature and folklore and is written in Yorkshire dialect with directness and truth. The language Dorothy uses reminds us how our connection to nature has changed over the last few decades, as her every sentence uses nature to comment on the human experience. As I read her poems, and enjoyed the beautiful illustrations in her books, I thought that her work feels very contemporary, and is maybe due for a renaissance. Some of her concerns and passions chime with today’s environmental and nature writing, as well as the importance of place in poetry and nature writing.
We were delighted that as well as the DUR event, there was also a book sale and apple tasting in the courtyard. It was such a gentle and relaxing day.
Once we returned home, I was inspired to buy a couple of DUR books that I don't already have!