Thread by @WomenInTheHills

Women in the Hills will be launched at a festival dedicated to nature-writing, called The Lost Voices, taking place in Newcastle, 13-14 June 2020. Let me tell you about the festival! Since nature-writing emerged as a genre in the C18th, it's been dominated by the lone white male.

But - especially in this period of climate emergency - we could do with hearing more voices, all articulating the diversity of experiences, values, and meanings attached to the natural world – and suggesting new models for the relationship between humanity and nature.

The Lost Voices will give prominence to those whose representations of the natural world have been over-shadowed by the white middle-class male tourist: women writers, working-class writers, BAME writers; writers about illness, disability, childhood, sexuality, sex & gender.

Nature-writing isn't all about solitude. Mountains are social spaces too. Many people's experiences of natural spaces are shaped by social dynamics, incl racism & sexism. Access to the natural world is mediated thru social dynamics eg childcare, disposable income & leisure time.

The Lost Voices will shine a light on writings that highlight the politics, past & present, of nature-writing. Such amazing writers will be speaking! I'll list them in a separate tweet. But it's TWO FULL DAYS of illuminating, surprising, & wonderful nature-writing, in June 2020.

There'll be immersive, reflective talks by wonderful writers: @HelenMort @kathrynaalto @rosegeorge3. There'll be discussions about whose voices have been lost, & the need to widen access to nature & writings: with @ProfTimJackson @anitakntweets @passingplace @Jini_Reddy

@HelenMort @kathrynaalto @rosegeorge3 @ProfTimJackson @anitakntweets @passingplace @Jini_Reddy We'll explore how social class shapes experiences of the natural world, with @WoollettLisa, Karen Bell (author of Working-Class Environmentalism) & @calmandfearless. We'll discuss illness, impairment & disability with @pollyrowena @samlwalton & Sarah Bell (dir. of Sensing Nature)

@HelenMort @kathrynaalto @rosegeorge3 @ProfTimJackson @anitakntweets @passingplace @Jini_Reddy @WoollettLisa @calmandfearless @pollyrowena @samlwalton I'm over-the-moon that @canongatebooks is curating a session w @NanPrize winner @ninamingya & shortlisted authors @jcniala & @ElliJWilson. And there'll be a fascinating session on the past & present politics of nature-writing with @kerri_ni @RSmythFreelance & Katrina Porteous.

@HelenMort @kathrynaalto @rosegeorge3 @ProfTimJackson @anitakntweets @passingplace @Jini_Reddy @WoollettLisa @calmandfearless @pollyrowena @samlwalton @canongatebooks @NanPrize @ninamingya @jcniala @ElliJWilson @kerri_ni @RSmythFreelance Our own network will launch with a session featuring @ZakiyaMedia, @butnorain @jessicajlee and Nan Shepherd's executor Erlend Clouston. And children's voices are important too - bestselling author @PiersTorday will be running a children's nature-writing workshop for ages 8-12.

@HelenMort @kathrynaalto @rosegeorge3 @ProfTimJackson @anitakntweets @passingplace @Jini_Reddy @WoollettLisa @calmandfearless @pollyrowena @samlwalton @canongatebooks @NanPrize @ninamingya @jcniala @ElliJWilson @kerri_ni @RSmythFreelance @ZakiyaMedia @butnorain @jessicajlee @PiersTorday All this - ALL THIS!! - plus a drinks reception on Saturday night. You should come. You should DEFINITELY come. It will be an amazing event for
@WomenInTheHills and @NCLA_tweets. Read more, and BOOK, here: womeninthehills.co.uk/network-events…

@HelenMort @kathrynaalto @rosegeorge3 @ProfTimJackson @anitakntweets @passingplace @Jini_Reddy @WoollettLisa @calmandfearless @pollyrowena @samlwalton @canongatebooks @NanPrize @ninamingya @jcniala @ElliJWilson @kerri_ni @RSmythFreelance @ZakiyaMedia @butnorain @jessicajlee @PiersTorday @NCLA_tweets (Just realised that this tweet, with all the vital booking info, got unthreaded somehow when I first tweeted it. Hopefully this will provide all the necessary info).