A poem inspired by the University of Leicester Botanic Garden is taking centre stage in Leicestershire author Tim Relf's debut poetry collection as National Poetry Day falls on Thursday 1 October.
Desert House, written during Relf's term as the garden's first poet-in-residence, features in Not Even October, due from Salt Publishing in early November. Set in the greenhouse that displays cacti and other succulents, the poem was sparked by a chance encounter with a visitor from South Africa and explores home, memory and the natural world.
With hundreds of events planned for National Poetry Day, Relf said he hopes more people will try reading and writing verse.
Relf: 'A great way of expressing yourself'
"Some may have been put off it by early experiences at school, but it's a great way of expressing yourself, learning about the world and understanding people better."
As well as writing poetry inspired by the 16-acre Botanic Garden and encouraging others to write, Relf used the residency to spread awareness of gardening and spark curiosity about plants, horticulture and the environment.
Relf: 'A place to be inspired'
"I was transfixed by the Garden the first time I visited. Many families come here to relax and unwind, but it also plays an important role helping visitors learn about plants, the natural world and climate change.
"Being here can transport you from Leicestershire to different worlds. There are rare specimens and so much colour – it's a place to be inspired."
He recalled meeting a woman who had grown up in South Africa and was so reminded of that country by the Desert House that she started crying the moment she entered it — the kind of moment that often sparks a poem. Actor Richard E. Grant has described Not Even October as "incisive and moving".
"At a time of rapid climate change, it's important that we all understand more about the natural world and the environment. The Botanic Garden helps people do this. As a haven of peace and quiet, it's also a place to relax and unwind, and to spend time with family and friends. It's a tremendous asset for residents of Leicester and further afield."
The University of Leicester Botanic Garden underpins scientific research and teaching at the university and runs education programmes for all ages, reaching into the community to show the contemporary significance of plants in a rapidly changing world. Relf is also a Penguin-published novelist.
