Warwick academic and poet Professor David Morley recently contributed over 80 poems to a “slow art” poetry trail in woodland at Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire. The “slow poems” are written into natural materials to form a woodland trail and will remain there until they naturally fade and disappear.

The slow art trail aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and explore how artists can develop a more sustainable approach to their creative practice. David Morley, Professor of Creative Writing, was inspired by natural features of the estate including an abandoned Christmas tree plantation, the River Strid, and Barden Tower.

His collection includes ankle-high Haikus written into Elm and longer poems written on easels and fabric. The ‘slow poems’ are designed to be contemplated and enjoyed in the natural woodland and landscape of Bolton Abbey.

The project was developed by Chrysalis Arts - an award-winning public art company which works to regenerate communities by creating public artwork that expresses and reinforces local identity and sense of place.

Chrysalis Arts Director, Rick Faulkner said “The installations will range from pieces which tempt visitors to sit down and contemplate their surroundings to those which challenge perceptions about contemporary art-making in a traditional rural landscape. The works will highlight issues affecting landscape, agriculture, global warming and climate change."

David Morley spent time in the Yorkshire Dales in his youth and has a distinguished career as an academic and published poet. He is a National Teaching Fellow, Director for The Warwick Writing Programme and Director of the Warwick Prize for Writing. He has published 17 books (including 9 volumes of poetry), won 12 literary awards and gained two awards for his teaching including a National Teaching Fellowship

The slow art trail runs until Sunday 19 October but the work will remain on display until it naturally disappears.

Watch more videos of David Morley at the slow poetry trail

Read more on David Morley’s blog: http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/morleyd

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