Wednesdays, 6 pm to 8 pm

This is an introduction to nature writing for students wanting to study this genre in a practical way and develop a portfolio of writing for publication or broadcast. During eight weeks of sessions, together with recommended reading and self-directed study, we will explore forms of nature writing such as journaling, fieldnotes, short-form and long-form essays, video/audio essays, ecopoetry, environmental journalism and writing as activism.

We will discuss the role of writing in the Anthropocene and our relations to Nature through natural history, protective conservation, restorative ecology, rewilding, ecosemiotics, personal experience and autoethnography, ecocriticism, ecophilosophy and post-humanism. At the end of the course, students will have amassed a collection of writing useful for taking the next steps in their nature writing practice.

Dr Paul Evans is a freelance writer and broadcaster with considerable experience in (print and online) environmental journalism, radio documentaries, docu-dramas and teaching creative writing.

Dates: 08/10/2025 - 03/12/2025

Location: The first and last sessions will be on campus at the University of Bristol Arts Complex, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1TB and the remainder of the sessions will take place online via Teams.

Contact Info:
english-lifelong@bristol.ac.uk
0117 455 8271

Detailed Description

Refund Policy: 

Refunds for our short courses are only to be given in exceptional circumstances and no less than one month before the course is due to start.

Refunds for a course already started cannot be accepted.

If a student is unable to attend a course before it has begun and there is a waiting list, refunds can be granted should their place be successfully transferred to a person on the waiting list.

Refunds will only be processed once receipt of the waiting list student’s fee has been confirmed and can take up to three weeks.

For full terms and conditions please visit www.bristol.ac.uk/english/study/part-time/short-courses/booking-information-and-terms-and-conditions/.