Books and nature at the art of festival

Aweekend of words and wilderness fairytale adventures is on offer in the heart of the Kent countryside.

The Wealden Literary Festival starts on Saturday, June 30 with food writer and broadcaster Diana Henry talking about her new cookery book – How to Eat a Peach. Lucy Mangan, author of Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading, will also be speaking.

On Sunday, July 1, bestselling author Tom Cox will be discussing his new book 21st Century Yokel, which explores how we can be tied inescapably to landscape, through our family and past. The same day, acclaimed children’s author Yuval Zommer will be in the festival tent, talking about his illustrated book, The Street Beneath My Feet, a foldout book that creates a deep underground journey to the centre of the Earth.

There will be creative writing and art workshops as well as woodland-based activities and events such as bushcraft, foraging and wildlife spotting while artist in residence, Kate Linforth, will be exhibiting work inspired by the grounds and leading a series of art workshops.

Festival director Andrew Willan said: “The festival essentially marries together three wonderful things; books, art and nature. We hope through the festival to nurture the links between people (and in particular children) and the natural world as nowadays all too many people lack the means to engage in any meaningful way with the outdoors.

“As the virtual world becomes increasingly dominant in our lives, time spent out of doors with opportunities to read, write, create and think has perhaps never before been so vital.

“It is a thrill to see the festival taking root and flourishing.”

Festival director Andrew Willan and artist Kate Linforth