29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
New literature festival celebrating nature in Llandovery
On May 9 and 10, the "Reading the Wild/Darllen y Gwyllt" festival will unfold in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire.
The festival's main venue will be the historic Castle Hotel, where George Borrow penned "Wild Wales" in 1854.
The festival will exclusively focus on nature writing, highlighting the beauty of the natural world and the pressing issues it faces, such as climate change.
This unique festival is believed to be the first in Wales with such a specific focus.
A host of renowned authors have been invited to share their expertise and passion for nature writing.
These include Jackie Morris, co-author of "The Lost Words," Tom Bullough, Bethany Handley, Stephanie Hafferty, Dr Rob Thomas, Michael Malay, Steven Lovatt, Dr Rhys Jones, Julie Brominicks, Carwyn Graves, Nicola Davies, and Helen and Thomas Docherty.
In an effort to be environmentally conscious, the festival has collaborated with local artist Amanda Rose to design tickets made from scrap materials.
The tickets will double as bookmarks to be taken home post-festival, aiming to minimise the event's carbon footprint.
The festival also features a variety of activities, including walks and storytelling.
The event has been organised by Mandy Thomas, owner of Books at the Dragonfly, and promises to be a remarkable celebration of nature's wonders and challenges.
