Living Stories: Landscapes of Belonging
7, 9 & 30 September 2026
Select your tickets:
Join us for a series of three workshops, each connected to the one before.
Every landscape holds stories. In the roots of its trees, the seeds of its wildflowers and the footsteps of the people who have passed through it. Across three shared sessions of walking, planting and creative writing, participants will explore Bristol as a living landscape shaped by nature, migration, heritage & community, adding their own voices to a story that is still unfolding.
Developed by Mozambican-born multidisciplinary artist, facilitator & cultural producer MoYah in collaboration with the Royal West of England Academy, the University of Bristol, Soul Trail, Step by Step Gardens & Bristol City Poet Sukina Noor, this collaborative project brings together creative, ecological and community knowledge to explore local plants, uncover the histories they hold, collectively plant a series of permanent planters that will become part of the RWA’s living landscape, and create original writing inspired by our shared relationship with place.
Living Stories: Landscapes of Belonging recognises that landscapes are shaped not only by ecology, but also by the movement of people, the exchange of cultures and the relationships we build with the places we share. Through walking, planting and creativity, participants will leave their own lasting contribution to Bristol’s evolving story.
Session Details
Session 1:
Guided Local Walk: Monday 7 September | 4.30pm - 6.30pm
Delivered by MoYah & Leanne Wharton (Soul Trail)
Discover the hidden stories of Bristol’s native plants and trees as we explore the landscapes around us. Through folklore, local history and ecology, we’ll uncover how the natural world and the movement of people have shaped the places we call home, gathering inspiration for the journey ahead.
Along the way, participants will respond through short creative writing reflections, capturing the thoughts, questions and stories that emerge from the walk.
Session 2:
Collaborative Planting Session: Wednesday 9 September | 10am - 12:30pm
Delivered by MoYah & Sammy Gearing (Step by Step Gardens)
Get your hands in the soil as we collectively create a permanent planter for the Royal West of England Academy. Working with bulbs, flowers, herbs and native plants, we’ll celebrate the richness of Bristol’s ecosystems and communities, creating a living landscape that reflects the beauty of diversity and shared belonging.
Through guided creative writing prompts, participants will pause to reflect on the act of planting and the connections taking root between people, place and nature.
Session 3
Creative Writing Session: Wednesday 30 September | 10am - 12:30pm
Delivered by MoYah & Sukina Noor (Bristol City Poet)
Drawing together the experiences, reflections and discoveries from the previous sessions, we’ll transform our shared journey into poetry and creative writing. Inspired by the landscapes we’ve explored, the plants we’ve nurtured and the connections we’ve made, participants will create original pieces that celebrate place, belonging and the stories we continue to grow together.
Photo credit: Sinag Yuson
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