You may have seen some of our recent socials from Love Local festival at the National Trust’s Ormesby Hall in Middlesbrough. We had a lush time, sending a team of four poets to chat with the public and collect their thoughts and impressions into some communal poems. It’s all part of training some of our sisterhood of poets in the mysterious ways of being community-focused participatory artists!

Using the same set of crowd-sourced words, phrases, memories and opinions gathered from passers-by, our team created several poems about what people love, locally. Which do you like best?

We love our local community
and all it has to share
from ice cream, cakes and parmos
to squirrels, sheep and hares

We’re known for northern friendliness
and gardens that sure bloom
not the gloom and dread
that southerners often assume

We have instant countryside
and a wealth of seaside delights -
Redcar, Marske and Saltburn
where you can (sometimes) see the northern lights 

We love to discover new places
Whether we walk, cycle or swim
We have plenty of untouched land
And we love to listen to the birds sing 

Our local area is full of history
And our neighbours bear witness
As our people and our town
Thrive on its cultural richness

That was from the brilliant Aisha Lama. Now let’s have one from poet and musician Sara Dennis…

Teesside is more than what they show on TV,
More than industry, decay or poverty.

Minutes from the country
Moments from the coast
The town is just a drive away
Little wonder we can boast.

All this space, Pennyman's dwelled
Preserved for the people 

Lady Pennyman, she was a lass!
With her Morris Minor
And her blue rinse flash
Drove her car into a ditch!

We all loved hearing some of the tea spilled about the Pennyman days, when Ormesby Hall was a family home and a centre for all manner of artistic and philanthropic projects. Caroline Walling was moved in all kinds of creative directions with these fledgling poems...

We met in the meadow quiet 
All this space conserved
Birds, high and brave
Foxgloves fairy thimbles
 in bloom. 
peacefulness of the wind 
swimming daisies
the evening woods charm
all visible moments,
today the flowers are 
our community

To be or not to be in the North East
Moments from the coast
Surfing on a glowing tide.
fish n chips at Saltburn, 
ice cream, 
strolling on the pier

Minutes from the country
Peaceful, birds singing.
Strawberries with the leaves on
Nature sounds, 
away from things.

Being with family
visible history
Down to earth - 
community
love coming to all the time.
Cycling to Transporter Bridge
Along the barrage, home again
For football,
gardens in bloom.  
Fairy thimbles
Dog walking
Meadows filled with colour
swinging in the dance
of Roseberry Topping
and Marske beach
and South Gare

To be or not to be in the North East
In its rogue and loveliness.

And finally, Kirsten cheated and set everything to 'A Few Of My Favourite Things' - apologies for the earworm!

Mint choc chip ice-cream, and Stuart Park squirrels,
Fish and chip suppers, and strawberries with leaves on,
Chess games and rugby, a nice cup of tea,
These are the things that are lovely to me.

Scruffy-field meadows and the beach on my doorstep,
Places I went as a kid to cause havoc,
Walking in woods or a run on the Stray,
I love these things, that's what I want to say!

Dog walks and dancing, sheepsies and horsies,
Cycling all the way to the Transporter,
Peaceful birds singing as I walk at night,
These are the things that me feel alright.

Football and flowers, beaches where boats sit,
The pier at Saltburn, the wind in the quiet,
Eston Hills, Ormesby Hall, our hidden gems,
I share my loves with my family and friends.

Going to Grandma's, or alone on my own bed,
Taking my daughter out for adventures,
Playgrounds where all of the kids can roam free,
These are the days that are restful for me.

Countryside only a minute from my house,
Period charm in the old streets of Linthorpe,
Teesside is much more than what's on TV,
We should all Love Local - it's easy to see!!