Bournemouth Writing Festival

20/06/2026

Our wind phones will be out and about over the next few weeks for you to speak to your loved one - past or present - for free.

Or pick it up to test out your dialogue or speak to your main character - and see where the wind takes your words.

It will be at the Picnic in the Park festival in Queens Park tomorrow (Sunday).

From Monday to Friday this week, it will be at the The Garden Rooms Café in Boscombe.

The following Sunday, 28th June, it will be with us for our nature writing walks at Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre and Local Nature Reserve.

Then, as we had into July, it will be at Arts University Bournemouth's Festival of Creativity.

At the end of July, it will head to the Mudeford Arts Festival.

So come along and support these local, community events and cafes whilst having a go with our wind phone and see what happens.

19/06/2026

WOW-EE!!

The weather forecast is looking 😎☀😎☀😎☀😎 for our nature writing walks at Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre and Local Nature Reserve next weekend!

Make sure you bring water and suncream!

There will be three themed, guided nature walks to choose from with plenty of writing prompts to get you writing.

Tickets are Pay What You Can (as low as £1 - it's so we can monitor numbers) and all proceeds go to our writing competition charity Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots Programme, UK.

All the details on the website: https://www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/nature-writing-walks

19/06/2026

The Bournemouth Writing Festival wind phone - as seen on the BBC!

​The network of wind phones will provide free places for reflection and connection through words.

18/06/2026

Some lovely photos from Tom Shaw's excellent inaugural event for writers - The Writer's Room at the Hotel du Vin Poole - of people using the wind phone as a writing prompt.

We gave them a writing prompt to use the phone, they went away to write something, and then came back to share

Physically using the phone, some of the offerings were:
* sharing a memory to their grandad when he used to swing him round, and round and round.
* Reconnecting with a long-term friend who is suffering from dementia.
* Having a conversation with their younger self.

Thank you to everyone who took part. The wind phone will be heading to Picnic in the Park at Queens Park this Sunday from 12pm and will be at our nature writing walk at Hengistbury Head on Sunday 28th June.

So come and check it out - for free!

17/06/2026

Mark your diaries for TWO upcoming writing events!

Sunday 28th June - nature writing walks at Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre and Local Nature Reserve, and the weather is looking 🔆😎☀🌞 Three nature-inspired walks with writing prompts together with the Bournemouth Writing Prize and our charity partner Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots Programme, UK. Pay What You Can.
Details: https://www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/nature-writing-walks

Saturday 4th July and Sunday 5th July - Arts University Bournemouth's Festival of Creativity where the festival has curated a range of local poets and collectives to perform on the performance stage. FREE!

Our wind phone will be making an appearance at both so connect with a loved one with our disconnected phone. FREE!
Details: https://www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/wind-phones-in-bournemouth

16/06/2026

On Sunday 28th June, we are organising three nature writing walks to get you inspired to write through nature!

As part of our partnership with Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots Programme, UK and Bournemouth University for this year's writing competition, we are hosting a writing event to help you get more in-tune with nature - and provide writing prompts to spark your imagination.

Here are the details:

🕤 9:30am for a 10:00am start
📅 Sunday 28th June
📍 Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre
🚶 Walks last up to 90 minutes
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🐶 Family and dog-friendly!
💚 Pay What You Can from £1 (registration required so we can monitor numbers).
🌻 Everyone will receive a planter and sunflower seeds to take home and grow!

All proceeds will be donated to Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots programme.

Once you arrive at the visitor centre, you can then choose to go on one of three themed walks - all aligned to Roots & Shoots' nature pillars. Jane Goodall was a leading primatologist so the first letters of the themes are pertinent!

These are:
🐾 Animals – led by Stephen Gregory
👥 People – led by Roundhouse curator Hayden
🌿 Environment – led by Jamie Derrick

Not only will these walks inject some creative thinking, but it may even give you some ideas for an entry into this year's writing competition!

Visit the website for all the details!
https://www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/nature-writing-walks

16/06/2026

Remember, our Facebook forum is free to join where you can ask questions, seek advice or have a chat about writing with other writers and authors.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bournemouthwritingfestivalforum

15/06/2026

TOMORROW!!

Get yourself down to The Writing Room at the Hotel du Vin in Poole and support another local writer.

Local poet Tom Shaw is starting a new venture, creating a space to meet writers, explore ideas and experiment with writing.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or looking for a place to start, The Writing Room is open to everyone to experiment with writing, make new friends, and enjoy a complimentary welcome drink.

Each month features a guest speaker to share their insights and an inspiring writing prompt and in its inaugural session, festival director Dominic Wong will be the first guest speaker! His writing prompt will be using an old-style telephone...... join us to find out more....

Join a community of creatives to write, connect, and share ideas.

The Writing Room can be found within the Crow's Nest area of the Grade II-listed Georgian Mansion House, now home to the Hotel du Vin. This setting perfectly balances beauty and comfort, providing a nurturing environment for writing.

All attendees can also enjoy an additional 10% off food an drink over the course of the evening.

Buy tickets and support a new writing initiative in the area: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-writing-room-hotel-du-vin-tickets-1989987539299

15/06/2026

Here's our Wind Phone at the Bournemouth Writing Sanctuary.

Your Monday Motivation this morning is to write a piece of dialogue to your younger self.

What would you say to them?

It's just for fun, and if you feel comfortable, write your lines in the comments below!