This summer, visitors to Painshill can enjoy a unique walk through words and nature thanks to a new poetry trail created by Painshill’s first Poet in Residence, Nia Broomhall, in collaboration with the local community.
Find what you find is a trail of 25 enchanting poems displayed at 25 locations across the 18th century landscape, giving visitors an opportunity to experience Painshill in new and inspiring ways.
With echoes of Charles Hamilton, who designed Painshill to evoke the emotions of 18th century visitors, the new poetry trail has been developed to foster feelings of wellbeing today.
Nia Broomhall is an award-winning poet and the trail marks the culmination of her 18-month residency at Painshill, supported by Arts Council England. During this time, Nia explored Painshill’s Grade I listed landscape and spent time talking to visitors about why Painshill is special to them. The poems she has written reflect her own love for Painshill as well as the thoughts and feelings of visitors.
Also included in the new Poetry Trail are poems by members of Painshill’s local community who took part in Poetry Writing Workshops led by Nia as part of her residency.
Brought together, the poems, all inspired by Painshill’s historic landscape, are the latest chapter in Painshill’s long creative history. Originally envisaged as a living painting by Charles Hamilton, Painshill is internationally recognised as a masterpiece of landscape design.
Gary Topp, Director of Painshill, said: “Hamilton’s work of creative fiction took an ordinary expanse of farmland and turned it into an internationally acclaimed landscape design. This extraordinary creative act, restored over the last forty years, makes Painshill an important place for showcasing contemporary creative practice.”
“Nia has explored Painshill through her own unique poetic lens, and through this work she has given the landscape many new voices and perspectives, opening it up in new ways to everyone. The poems will help you notice different things, encourage your emotional responses and remind you of why a walk at Painshill is such a special experience. The poetry trail literally puts the poems in the locations that inspired them and turns the landscape into a giant poetry book for you to read as you walk.”
Nia Broomhall said: “I’ve been a regular visitor to Painshill since my teenagers were babies and it has always been my happy place. It’s a story. It’s a poem. I knew I could write and write about it. With the poetry trail, I wanted to take the 18th century idea of an emotional trail and turn it into something affirmative, that could support people’s wellbeing.”
“My hope is that everyone can find something in the trail that resonates with them. Creating this trail has brought me a huge amount of joy, and I really hope people enjoy it. I’m grateful to both Arts Council England and the Painshill Park Trust for making this very special project a reality.”
Marion Agnew, who took part in Nia’s Poetry Writing Workshop, said: “Words have always interested me, the structure and flow of words and Painshill is a beautiful place, in both the planting and the architecture. It seemed too good a chance to miss to be able to combine the two, and working with Nia and the other attendees has been truly inspiring.”
The title ‘Find what you find’ is taken from a line in the first poem, Beginning. It captures the unique experience of each visitor as they explore layers of landscape, history, emotion and creativity.
Visitors are encouraged to listen whilst they wander the trail. Each poem can be listened to by clicking the button below.
Find what you find is included in general admission and is free for Painshill Members. Join us until 18 September and let poetry and nature inspire your summer.
