Half Day Poetry Retreat: Letters to the Beautiful Things

A gentle in-person poetry retreat held in the countryside, created for anyone who wants to notice life more deeply, soften into gratitude, and write in a warm, welcoming space — no experience needed.

We will gather in a cosy room overlooking woodland and water, with a log burner lit and endless tea and coffee available. The pace will be slow and human — not academic, not performative — simply an afternoon of writing as a way of paying attention to what is good.

What We Will Do

We will use the simple form of the letter as our doorway into poetry —

letters to ourselves, to the people who shaped us, and to the ordinary miracles that make life worth living.

We will begin by reading a small hand-picked bundle of uplifting poems (printed for you to take home), then do some gentle warm-up writing. From there you will be guided through three letter-based poetry prompts, each one with a slightly different focus.

You will leave with the beginnings of three poems you can continue to shape in your own time, plus an invitation to join an optional WhatsApp group if you’d like to stay connected and keep writing in community.

Sharing aloud is always optional — you may write privately the whole time if you wish.

Who This Is For

This retreat is for beginners and seasoned writers alike.

For anyone who craves stillness, reflection, or a gentle return to wonder.

You do not need to feel confident to come. You do not need the “right” words.

If you can write a sentence, you can write a poem.

Setting & Atmosphere

The retreat takes place at our private countryside venue:

Surrounded by trees, fields and lakes

Warm indoor space with a log burner and comfortable seating

Free tea, coffee and biscuits provided

Quiet, slow, intimate atmosphere

To keep the space held and personal, places are strictly limited.

Why Letters? Why Poetry?

Because gratitude becomes real when it is named.

Because writing is a way of preserving what would otherwise pass unnoticed.

Because naming the beautiful things keeps us alive to them.

If you feel called to spend an afternoon in praise of what is good —

I would love to write with you.