Performances and readings led by Simon Armitage at Marsden Mechanics Hall in Marsden on 12 May will launch the Stanza Stones “poetry trail”, a collaboration between Armitage and Ilkley Literature Festival, in association with imove, a Cultural Olympiad programme in Yorkshire. Armitage has been writing a set of poems inspired by the language and landscape of the Pennine watershed, to be carved onto stones across the upland by stone artist Pip Hall, forming a permanent Pennine poetry trail.

Alongside this six groups of young writers aged 12-26, supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, have been taking part in workshops including masterclasses with Simon Armitage on the watershed itself - a chance to experience and gain inspiration from the Pennine landscape. Poems produced by the young writers will be published in a special anthology in May.

The picture shows the third stone on the trail at Cow’s Mouth Quarry, a level 15 minutes or so walk through a gate and along a gravelled track (part of the Pennine Way) that starts beside the White House pub, on the A58 from Littleborough to Hebden Bridge. 

More tickets for the Marsden event will be released soon. Contact 01943 601 210 or info@ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk to be added to the waiting list.