Nature Calling: read new poetry inspired by the Chilterns

Date: 15th January 2025

The Chilterns National Landscape and Revoluton Arts are sharing brand–new poetry by Lee Nelson, created as part of the ground-breaking Nature Calling programme.

The work was created after Lee invited local people to participate in two events exploring the landscape and heritage of the Chilterns. This included a visit to Barton Hills Nature Reserve, discovering the chalk springs, and a storytelling circle at Waulud’s Bank, an ancient monument at Marsh Farm next to the source of the River Lea. People were invited to share memories, stories and experiences prompted by the local landscape in and around Luton and these have shaped Lee’s poetry.

Lee was inspired by his visits to the Chilterns as a child and his more recent visits with his own son and community groups from his hometown of Luton, the result is a short collection of nine poems.

“From the beginning I had an idea of the basics of what I wanted the poems to ‘say’,” said Lee. “It was important that things not be too much from one point of view – the intention is to draw people out [to the countryside near Luton] to see for themselves and being told that some old geezer knows better what they should be looking at is unlikely to achieve much in that direction.”

Two people facing away from the camera. They are tying ribbons or pieces of paper with words written on them to the branches of a tree. The trees leaves are green.

Lee Nelson's Community Workshop in the Chilterns National Landscape.

Read Lee's poetry on the Nature Calling webpage

Lee’s poems will frame the next stage of the Nature Calling project – Luton Henge. Inspired by the Chilterns landscape, its ancient rituals and structures, and celebrating culture in Luton today, artist Matt Rosier will create a new community monument and outdoor gathering space.

A male figure walking along stepping stones in a stream surrounded by lush green vegetation and trees. The male is facing away from the camera.

Lee Nelson's community workshop in the Chilterns National Landscape

Alongside Lee’s work for the Chilterns National Landscape, the National Landscapes Association is today releasing new work by BBC 6 Music favourite, Manchester’s OneDa, MOBO award winning Still Shadey from Croydon, Dorset based poet and author Louisa Adjoa Parker, and up and coming poet Ayesha Chouglay. The work inspires and reflects on new feelings of connection to England’s most iconic places.

In 2025 Nature Calling is bringing together the 34 National Landscapes in England, local arts organisations and community groups from within a 30-minute journey time of their nearby National Landscape in an ambitious new national arts programme. They are working together to co-create artworks inspired by these iconic places and the results will be shared with the public in a Season of Art from May – October 2025, reaching an audience of tens of thousands.

Find out more about Nature Calling