In honor of Earth Day 2023 on Saturday, April 22, Barnstable Land Trust (BLT) is launching the second installment of Words in the Wild, a unique hiking trail initiative that features four original site-specific poems penned by local poets. Each poem has been etched onto individual cedar trail signs that includes a QR code connecting to audio recordings and other information. We are also excited to announce two free Art and Nature poetry workshops (see below). This year, the program is supported in part by grants from the Mid-Cape Cultural Council (a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency), and the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.

Words in the Wild 2023 inspiration can be discovered on the following BLT trails:     

• Bansfield Meadow, Osterville | “A Window” by rose auslander

• Bell Farm, Cotuit | “Walking on History” by Lucile Burt

• Lowell Park, Cotuit | “Lowell Park Woodlands Trail” by Robin Smith-Johnson

• Coombs Bog, Centerville | “Possibility” by Deirdre G. Callanan

Preregistration is required for the following Art and Nature poetry workshops:

• Saturday, April 22 at 10 am with Deirdre Callanan, 2023 Words in the Wild Poet

• Friday, May 5 at 2 pm with Diane Hanna, 2022 Words in the Wild Poet, in partnership with the Cotuit Library

Last year’s program added trail inspiration at Pogorelc Sanctuary (West Barnstable), Fuller Farm (Marstons Mills), Ropes Field (Cotuit), and Eagle Pond (Cotuit).  The program is the brainchild of author, poet, and artist Lauren Wolk, who approached Barnstable Land Trust to partner on the 2022 initiative. Working with her colleague Bob Nash, the duo broadened the partnership to include the Cape Cod Makers group who used their specialized GlowForge technology to engrave the poems on cedar plaques. A team of BLT volunteers led by Kelly Barber, Director of Land Stewardship, have installed the unique trail signs on BLT properties both years.