Very timely and welcome piece, Greg, though Clare is always relevant with the countryside increasingly under threat. Like myself, my late father-in-law was a great admirer of John Clare. Being Northamptonshire born and bred, he was furious when boundary changes shifted Helpston into Cambridgeshire. Always felt he’d been robbed of part of his heritage.

Comment is about Celebrating nature, mourning lost landscape: England’s ‘awkward’ poet John Clare (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I live not far away from his cottage and in the past I have completed a presentation on social history from inside to the John Clare society. I have a collection of his works and his poems inspire me to write more of the natural world as I walk through the South Lincolnshire lanes and footpaths. Brilliant, brilliant man, much misunderstood

Comment is about Celebrating nature, mourning lost landscape: England’s ‘awkward’ poet John Clare (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

It was only when I moved to live in Oundle that I came across the poetry of Clare. It was interesting to read his poems as I sat looking out at the rolling countryside of one of Englands most beautiful counties. Northamptonshire is still a part of England which I feel drawn to as I am sure Clare found it to be his home.

Comment is about Celebrating nature, mourning lost landscape: England’s ‘awkward’ poet John Clare (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman