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Framlingham Library celebrates Poetry Month with a ‘PoetTree’

Ann Willis with the PoetTree in Framlingham Library
Ann Willis with the PoetTree in Framlingham Library.

A ‘PoetTree’ is springing to life in Framlingham Library this October, along with workshops for adults and children to encourage the sharing and appreciation for poems during Poetry Month.

Anyone coming to the library during October is being encouraged to have some fun with poetry by participating in the Framlingham Library PoetTree project! A twiggy ‘tree’ will be set up in the library with paper leaves to inspire adults and children to write a short poem and hang it on the PoetTree for other people to read and enjoy.

The library will also offer a poetry appreciation workshop for adults on the afternoon of Thursday 6 October, and there will be a ‘Let’s Write a Poem!’ hour for children and young adults during half term week on Tuesday 25 October.

At the end of the month the library will also be hosting an event with Kate Foley, a widely published prize-winning local poet and past president of Suffolk Poetry Society. The event will take place on Monday 31 October at 11AM and will feature readings of Kate’s poetry and discussions about poetry.

Framlingham resident Ann Willis, who suggested the idea of a PoetTree to Framlingham Library manager Vivia Bamford, helped organise a similar project in the USA in 2019 with fellow poets from the Georgia Poetry Society.

Ann said:

“One of our members had seen a tree of poems standing in a library in Athens, Georgia, and was so delighted by it that she suggested we do something similar for National Poetry Month. When we first set up the displays, library users were rather hesitant to take part. But after a short time, the library staff noticed that people of all ages were stopping to read the poems and deciding to add a leaf of their own.

“I hope everyone who comes to Framlingham Library will enjoy the sight of a tree hanging with colourful poem leaves and be encouraged to add their own poem. We’ll have some simple tips and ideas for those who haven’t tried writing a poem before. There’s no judgement about what makes a good poem. Just have fun! It would be wonderful to see the PoetTree full of leaves by the end of the month.”

For more details and specific times for the workshops, check the Framlingham Library Facebook page or contact the library, located at The Old Court House, Bridge Street, Framlingham IP13 9AJ.