Celebration of Nature & Poetry of John Clare

Sculptress Joel invited to John Clare Festival in Helpston

Such a joy for me, as a creative and passionate about nature and wildlife, comes with an invitation to be part of the celebrations of the poet John Clare on his birthday Saturday 13th of July 2019 in the village of Helpston. 

Jenny Wren

This sculptress shall be showing Bronze statues of some of the birds mentioned in the poet’s poems. On the Saturday you will be able to follow a trail of sculptures in the village – set on the greens; in the Church; a display in the garden of Vicarage Farm and for the Annakin Gallery some special Pewter Sculptures.

The Wren

Why is the cuckoo’s melody preferred
And nightingale’s rich song so fondly praised
In poet’s rhymes? Is there no other bird
Of nature’s minstrelsy that oft hath raised
One’s heart to extacy and mirth as well?
I judge not how another’s taste is caught:
With mine, there’s other birds that bear the bell
Whose song hath crowds of happy memories brought.
Such the wood-robin singing in the dell
And little wren that many a time hath sought
Shelter from showers in huts where I did dwell
In early spring the tennant of the plain
Tenting my sheep and still they come to tell
The happy stories of the past again.

At 3.15p.m. in the courtyard of the Blue Bell in Helpston you will be able to hear the talk by JOEL.

Feathers to Farthings

I shall be sharing a journey of words, including explanations about the casting of bronze,  following a verbal trail from feathers to farthings and back to feathers!

There will be reading of poems of John Clare and a poem written by me…which ‘happened’ after I had been observing certain species of birds on the hill behind my home

Owning the Hill. 

A Snippet of Owning the Hill – by Joel

I shall need to be very daring to speak the words of such a well loved Poet and in such a place – And with his fans possibly in the audience to share Owning the Hill.  But this poem was written before I knew of John Clare’s work and shows my own love of nature and my observation & interest in it’s doings. On the Hill shares messages within the message and a breathing rhythm reminiscent of some of John’s poems.

Robin Way Marker

Thanks to Jim & Jan Hardy of Vicarage Farm, Lesley Newitt  of the Blue Bell and  to Anna Kinnaird all other organisers and team behind this special event.

Swallow Pair in Flight Together

More information about the John Clare Society

Update on the unfolding celebration of the English poet John Clare and the Wren – a lovely Bronze Wren on a Round set on a stone sphere engraved with the words

extacy and mirth

in John Clare’s own particular spelling is set on display in the beautiful gardens of Pashley Manor – the inspirational gardens and landscapes on the borders of Kent and Sussex.

Joel has also completed her own book for children, Wren Story, all about a Mother Wren and her  search for names for her young… beautifully illustrated with the bird species and a trail to discover. More news coming soon.