Wandering poets, a choir, storytelling and birds of prey will be some of the highlights at a family fun and poetry day at Newstead Abbey, the home of Lord Byron, on Sunday 10 July.

The event, organised by Nottingham City Council and poet-in-residence Becky Cullen, will also include guided tours of the abbey in poetry, children’s games, craft activities, a detective trail, ukulele music and the launch of a guide to the abbey in poems, entitled ‘Windows and Shadows’. It has been developed by Becky at a series of family workshops over the last few months with the aim of helping visitors better understand and connect with this historic site. She will be leading some of the poetry tours and the wandering poets will be providing poetry on demand.

Entry to this event, which will take place between 12 and 4pm, will be £10 per car, including parking and entry to the abbey.

Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, said: “Newstead Abbey is, of course, famous for being the home of Lord Byron, the poet, so we wanted to celebrate that. There will be lots of fun activities for children and adults and we’re hoping the day will inspire at least one poet of the future. Our new poetry guide, ‘Windows and Shadows’, will then be used for future tours of the house, either as part of a guided tour or a self-guided visit.”

Becky added: “Working at Newstead Abbey with staff, visitors and the award-winning volunteer team has been an absolute delight. As Carole, one of our volunteers, puts it in her poem about the house, Newstead is still
‘Telling the story over the years:
the monks, the priors, the sirs, lords and ladies.
The dogs, the bears, the children;
the explorer, the writer,
the poet.’

“This celebration has something for everyone and is very much in the spirit of Byron, who loved words, music, games and laughter. We can’t wait to share that spirit with people.”