Reading by a river © Pexels
Tales from the Riverbank Literature Festival
Hampshire’s chalk streams are some of its most precious wild places - home to iconic species like the otter, water vole, brown trout, and kingfisher. With their serene beauty and vibrant wildlife, it’s no surprise that they have inspired authors like Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, Richard Adams (Watership Down), and Charles Kingsley (The Water Babies).
In June 2024, the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme teamed up with Hampshire Library Service to continue this centuries-long literary tradition. The Tales from the Riverbank Literature Festival comprised talks by prominent nature writers and writing workshops for children and adults, which included guided walks of local chalk streams.
Lisa Schneidau performing at the Tales from the Riverbank Literature Festival © Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Our guest speakers
We were honoured to welcome four brilliant guest speakers for the festival - our thanks to all for sharing their wisdom with us.
Tom Moorhouse - author, research ecologist, and conservation scientist.
Matt Gaw - author, journalist, and creative writing teacher.
Lisa Schneidau - author, environmentalist, and performance storyteller.
Amy-Jane Beer - author, naturalist, and environmental campaigner.
Children's Poetry Workshop at the Tales from the Riverbank Literature Festival © Timi van Houten
Our workshop leaders
Our writing workshops were led by two amazing local authors - our thanks to them for the enthusiasm and expertise they brought to the festival.
Amanda Kane-Smith - author and storyteller with a passion for the wonders of the natural world.
Dawn Nelson - author and storyteller with a passion for landscape, heritage, and nature connection.
