Art event celebrates 'godfather' of nature writing

Ronald Blythe educated himself by borrowing library books

An exhibition celebrating the life of a man labelled the "godfather of nature writing" and his home is taking place at a nature reserve.

The Ronald Blythe-inspired art event will run until 6 December at Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Discovery Park, near Billericay, Essex.

The writer grew up in poverty near Sudbury, Suffolk, and chronicled the English countryside during his career, including the book Akenfield, which was turned into a film starring local people.

Artist Dan Llywelyn Hall, whose work features in the exhibition, said Blythe's writing "drifted effortlessly across the ages".

The free-to-attend event is inspired by Bottengoms, Blythe's house and gardens in Wormingford on the Essex-Suffolk border.

He left it to the Essex Wildlife Trust following his death aged 100 in 2023, hoping it would be enjoyed by other creative minds.

Mr Hall said: "Since my first visit to meet Ronald Blythe, the time-locked wonder of Bottengoms burns a last memory of complete calm and serenity.

"The site is a perfect antidote to our world or digital bombardment."

Mr Blythe (right) allowed his famous Akenfield book to be made into a film by director Peter Hall

Blythe educated himself by borrowing library books and went on to write more than 30 of his own.

His best known work, Akenfield, is an account of village life in Suffolk from the 1890s and 1960s.

Blythe was appointed CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2017 for services to literature.

Lucy Gallard, project manager for Bottengoms at Essex Wildlife Trust, said it was an honour to be the property's custodian.

"The natural architecture of the trees are a key part of the magic of this place," she said.

"As many of them reach the end of their natural lives, it is important that we take the time to recognise that and celebrate it."