Reading the Forest

27/05/2026

Local multi-talented ceramicist, landscape designer, and poet Jane Spray has a new collection of poetry 'Cave Whale' just published. Join her for its launch this weekend

06/05/2026

Marking the official publication on 7th May of 'Vorest' - the debut collection of Forest of Dean poet Hear Rose reading and discussing her work for the Reading the Forest Podcast 'Poetry Now' series. Recorded before a live audience Listen on Apple Podcasts or here on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4KW157WEAEdmO1gI5VuhYo?si=GXCSWoTXSMyp4f00wA5F4w

23/04/2026

Great to see our mural featuring in a story of Cinderford town centre regeneration.
Pics: courtesy of Carmelo Garcia

19/04/2026

We had a full house (60+) at the Gloucester History Festival yesterday. A huge thanks to Sarah and Viki, curator and organiser and all the brilliant volunteers that made the Festival so successful and gave a platform to the story of Catherine Drew. Most of all, thanks to a wonderful and interested audience.

In the presentation we reflected on the support we have had from descendants of Catherine Drew in the USA (Michael Wright and Peter Hodges) and more recently Bridget in Australia. Michael made contact with us in 2019, leading to the publication of several brilliant poems never seen before in the latest collection. The book is available from Dean Heritage Centre, other outlets and all local libraries.

18/04/2026

How did the legacy of Catherine Drew connect Westport, Massachusetts, Gunns Mill and Cinderford? Find out in Gloucester this afternoon Saturday 18th April at 3.15pm at the Gloucester History Festival.

15/04/2026

We are in Gloucester this weekend talking about Catherine Drew. Born into rural splendour, her life was transformed by the industrial revolution. Saturday 18th April Gloucester History Festival 3.15pm - 3.45 pm in the Scriptorium Buttery, Blackfriars Priory, Ladybellegate Street GL12HN.

13/04/2026

If you looking to enrich your life with more contemporary poetry than Catherine Drew, then look no further than the Forest's own Stewart Carswell. There are two great opportunities to see him locally; in Bream and Newnham in April and May.

12/04/2026

We are delighted to be presenting the story of Catherine Drew and her newly revealed poetry at the Gloucester History Festival this coming Saturday. This new collection more than doubles the known work of the nineteenth century poet.

Catherine was never afraid to offer advice. If you are thinking of moving to London then take heed of what she describes in 'The Fair Maid of the Forest’s Three Days tour in London'. It was been described by author W. H . Potts in Roaming Down the Wye, published in 1949, as ‘a tirade against the supposed temptations and sins of London, which in those days of coaches, must have seemed as distant as China, especially to anyone living in the middle of a great forest’. It is not difficult to imagine the garbled and glittering tales that would come to the ears of a hard-working Forest woman from that far-off city of roofs and spires. Catherine Drew seems never to have visited it, but did not hesitate to describe it as a place from which all nice girls should keep away. Be warned.

For you menfolk, you find out about Honest John and where greed and selfish behaviour can lead......

10/04/2026

So who are these dodgy looking characters hanging around the Dean Heritage Centre and why are they there?

They are clutching the new edition of Catherine Drew's poems available from Dean Heritage Centre, and soon other retailers and your local library. Free copies have been distributed to every Forest of Dean School. If you want to know why these poems are important and still resonate with people today listen to BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Jo Durrant at 2:20 and 3:13 hours and minutes into her recent programme.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002tryl?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwydk18ee29o

Born in 1784, Catherine Drew documented radical changes during the industrial revolution.

07/04/2026

Great news from the Campaign to Protect Rural England [CPRE]. It is the Campaign to Protect Rural England's, centenary this year, and that of the Gloucestershire branch [CPREG] in 2028. To help celebrate these two centenaries they are organising three permenant way marked walks, along the theme in F W Harvey's "A song of Gloucestershire"'s third line which references "Forest and vale and high blue hill". The first walk, "high blue hill" in the Notgrove/Salperton area will open this June. It is terrific that CPRE are using the poem by the Laureate of Gloucestershire as an inspiration to enjoy a walk in our fantastic County.