Alicia Hayden
Alicia is a young, award-winning wildlife photographer, artist, writer, and filmmaker from North Yorkshire
Follow her on Twitter @aliciahaydenart
By Alicia Hayden
“As I slipped out of earth-sodden clothes and into a silky shock
So fresh, so sharp - she stole my breath,
Raindrops blending with tears as I dipped under and up”
Coming from North Yorkshire, I’ve always been inspired by the natural world. I grew up surrounded by woods and moors, and a twittering cacophony of birds in our back garden, and cloudfuls of insects in the meadows near my house.
Yet, even during my lifetime I have seen a change in these natural spaces; places once brimming with colour and noise becoming increasingly empty, shells of their former selves. Becoming multi-coloured ghost towns.
I wanted to create a poetry book which was both personal to me, and hopefully inspiring and relatable to others.
Alicia with a freshly printed copy of Multi-coloured Ghost Towns
Several studies and polls over recent years have shown that only 25% of UK children can identify a Robin - voted the UK’s favourite bird in 2015. As children grow up in an increasingly urbanised world, many young people are increasingly isolated from nature - growing up without the immersement and knowledge about the natural world. Equally, around 75% of young people suffer from eco-anxiety - fear for the future of our world - according to an international survey in 2022. Young people are increasingly switched on about the threats our planet faces, yet are also disconnected, and feel disempowered to take action.
I wanted to create a poetry book which was both personal to me, and hopefully inspiring and relatable to others. I wanted to try and show the joy and possibility that comes from the natural world - as well as using my poems, and nature, to discuss some of the other important threads that dominate our lives, such as love, grief, loss, and trauma. Nature has such a wonderful ability to provide solace, peace, and comfort; and I really wanted to bring this to life - as well as explore my changing connection with it over the past 5 years - in this collection.
The book is available from Alicia's online store
The Cameron Bespolka Trust and I decided to do a limited print run of 100 copies of Multi-coloured Ghost Towns, all available for free, and aimed at young people and families. They are available to order directly from my online shop, or feel free to get in touch with myself or The Cameron Bespolka Trust, especially if you need assistance covering postage costs.
Alicia.
Note: Alicia has received funding from our Young Naturalist Fund
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