After London / Wild Queer Land is an open access learning and collaboration programme in queer nature and queer ecology.
coordinated by Daniel Baker-Wells with Jasmine Isa Qureshi, Connor Butler, Roy Vickery (Plant Lore), LiLi K. Bright, Pierce Eldridge (Worms, Sissy Anarchy), Sheree Mack (Earth Sea Love, Black Nature in Residence), Tom Moulsdale, Scarlett Fay (the Strawberry Rat, Molly No-Mates), Hackney Herbal, and others tbc.
all activities are queer affirming and queer-led, the programme is designed to be as open and accessible as possible. If you have any questions or suggestions about access, we'd love to hear from you!: thebluehouseblue@gmail.com
PAY WHAT YOU CAN: suggested donation per workshop £4-6
THESE SESSIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN-PERSON IN YEOVIL, SOMERSET: FOR ONLINE WORKSHOPS PLEASE VISIT:
HTTP://LINK.OUTSAVVY.COM/QUEER-ECOLOGIES
Birdwatching walk AT NINESPRINGS PARK with Stephen Moss
MONDAY 27TH MAY 2024 @ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM - STEPHEN MOSS
Stephen (he / him) is a naturalist, nature writer, TV producer and nature guide. The original producer of BAFTA award-winning TV series Springwatch, he is also the author of best-selling books on birds and British wildlife (including Ten Birds that Changed the World), and he writes a monthly Birdwatch column for the Guardian and is president of Somerset Wildlife Trust.
WORKSHOP: Yeovil Country Park, (also known as Ninesprings) is rich with bird life- from green woodpeckers to thrushes, finches and tits. Stephen will lead a walk around the accessible areas of the park, where he will share his knowledge of local birds and help us to identify them from their appearance and song. We will start and finish at the park cafe.
VENUE: Yeovil Country Park, Ninesprings Cafe, Brunswick Street, Yeovil, Somerset, United Kingdom, BA20 1QZ
An introduction to Queering Ecology
with Jasmine Isa Qureshi
SATURDAY 29TH JUNE 2024 @ 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM - JASMINE ISA QURESHI: IN PERSON AT WESTLANDS
Jasmine Isa Qureshi (they/she), is a journalist (BBC Wildlife, Gaytimes, Metro, etc.), writer and marine / queer - biologist and ecologist. As a trans, Pakistani, non-binary, and muslim woman, she has often found that her need to intertwine her identity in her work is required for authenticity and creativity to thrive. As such, she is also a Poet, an Ambassador for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, an advisor on the committee of RSPB England, and a presenter, speaker, workshop facilitator and wildlife TV Researcher. She is also currently working on her first book!
WORKSHOP: Ecology and biology are often the basis for our understanding of the world, and allow us to traverse the natural world in many incredible and beautiful ways...but these ways are also full of toxic assumptions and preconceptions, that can lead us to harshly judge and impose upon the wildlife we so love, and even the people around us, and also seep into the ways we accept humanity and nature, and build society. Queering ecology is all about breaking down those foundational assumptions, and restructuring and re-understanding biology and ecology, using a mix of indigenous teachings, queer theory and storytelling, to allow us to open our minds and hearts to what nature really is all about.
In this workshop, learn to ask questions in the right places, grow your understanding of alternative systems of learning about nature, and open your eyes to an entirely new way of seeing the world, through the tools and knowledge you will find you already have.
VENUE: Westlands Entertainment Venue, Westbourne Cl, Yeovil BA20 2DD
Creative Writing Workshop with Scarlett Fay
WEDNESDAY 3RD JULY 2024 @ 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM - SCARLETT FAY: IN PERSON AT WESTLANDS
Scarlett Fay (she/her) is a Bristol based poet, performer and tattooist with a background in ecology and metalwork. She is a Research Assistant at The Museum of Roadside Magic (@museumofroadsidemagic) and co-founder of Molly No-Mates, Bristol’s premier queer, drag king Morris dancing team (@mollynomatesmorris).
Scarlett is the author of an illustrated poetry pamphlet, our mother’s bones, and two subsequent zines which are all for sale at www.thestrawberryrat.co.uk.
You can find new writing, performance updates and the occasional thirst trap on instagram at @thestrawberryrat.
WORKSHOP: Writing in the Wet Grass: Personal responses to nature
There are as many ways to approach writing as there are humans, and in this workshop I’ll share some of the ways the work for me. We’ll explore what we think makes poetry and prose work through discussion, writing, editing and performance exercises.
We’ll look at ways to break free from how sticky it can feel to start writing, and think about rhythm, texture and word choice as well as content. As writers in a green and squelchy world, we will focus on finding our place in the picture rather than approaching ‘nature’ as an external observer.
This workshop is about experimenting with process. No experience is needed and there is no expectation to either make or bring finished work.
VENUE: Westlands Entertainment Venue, Westbourne Cl, Yeovil BA20 2DD
🐻🦡🦅🦈🦋🦟🌷🌿🌾🌖🍄🍃🌰🌿🌳
queer-affirming & queer-led: LGBTQIA+ and allies welcome
PAY WHAT YOU CAN: suggested donation per workshop £4-6
After London (supported by Heritage Lottery Fund) is an exploration of queer ecologies, natural heritage of wildernesses in Greater London. Wild Queer Land is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. With thanks to the invaluable support of Barnsley Civic, The Octagon Theatre & Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil Diversity Project, Creative Recovery, Trans Barnsley, RSPB Old Moor, and many others.