Living Literature: a poetry walk with Gateshead Libraries

"And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells" Keats, To Autumn

Have you ever read a poem and found it hard to connect to the words? This gentle guided walk through Gibside’s gardens invites you to experience verse as it was meant to be; alive, embodied, and rooted in nature.

Join the Gateshead Libraries team for a 45-minute guided stroll through the estate’s autumnal beauty, where poetry and prose are woven into the landscape itself. You’ll hear works that span centuries, traditional and contemporary, each chosen to reflect the season’s richness. And if you have a favourite poem, bring it along.

But more than that, this is a chance to nourish your mind. To engage with literature in a way that’s tactile, sensory, and deeply rooted in place. For those who love gardens, history, and the pursuit of the written word, this event offers a rare moment to learn through experience.

Whether you're a seasoned poetry lover or simply curious, come and awaken your senses and deepen your understanding of literature, and perhaps you'll find a fresh way of seeing the world.