Poetry inspired by the Greensand Way

Poet John Wedgwood Clarke was commissioned as part of the Inspiring Views project to create poetry inspired by the views from the Greensand Way he comments;

“‘It’s been a pleasure to discover and explore a landscape that has so powerfully shaped, and been shaped by, human activity. The Surrey Hills are as full of voices as they are trees. Through this poem sequence, I’ve tried to recreate something of the atmosphere of each place, both in their familiarity and their haunting strangeness. This has involved walking and cycling the Greensand Way and making lots of notes, and by researching the history of each place and talking to people who love them. The poems have grown out of this rich terrain of generously shared information and insight.’

John has engaged with the local community, coming to stay with artists in the local areas in June and July. He interacted with local walkers and with members of the Surrey Archaeology Society which gave him a greater knowledge of the area. He was commissioned to create poetry inspired by the following five viewpoints:

• Holmbury Hill
• Reynards Hill
• Winterfold
• Hascombe Hill
• Gibbet Hill

To hear John recite the ‘Greensand Way’ poem, click here.

To find out more about the Inspiring Views project click here.