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Tickets for the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2024 go live!

Tickets for the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2024 go live today!  The third annual Festival will take place over the weekend of Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November and copies of the printed programme are now available to pick up across Exmoor, Devon and Somerset.  Click HERE to purchase tickets from the online Box Office (they are available online only).

Don’t miss author talks across the Festival weekend in Dulverton Town Hall with…

  • Deborah Meaden and money agony aunt Claer Barrett demystifying finance for young people
  • Jonathan Dimbleby and historical biographer Andrew Lownie discussing Stalin and World War II
  • Caroline Quentin and editor Gaby Huddart will be “Drawn to the Garden”
  • Fashion icon Plum Sykes with writer Alice Thomson discussing Plum’s new novel ‘Wives Like Us’
  • Former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child with her latest ‘Clarice Bean’ story
  • Bestselling novelists Jennie Godfrey, Vanessa de Haan, Jessica Moor and Kate Lord Brown
  • Stanley Johnson and his latest travel journal with editor Miranda Taylor
  • Exmoor’s farmers launching their new book ‘Exmoor Farms: A Year on the Moor’
  • Professor Charles Foster immerses himself into the lives of wild animals with writer Rachel Campbell Johnston
  • Horse racing experts Janet Vokes, Johnson White and Charles Blanning

There will also be a fascinating ‘Introduction to Crime Writing’ discussion with crime writers Louise Douglas and Sarah Easter Collins in Dulverton Library.  Events with FREE admission over the Festival weekend that do not require a ticket, include novelist Hazel Prior’s book readings – with her Celtic harp! – in the Bridge Inn; the ‘Meet the Author’ session with Jo Middleton, Zoe Gibson Quirk, Ian Parsons, Richard Collis and Powers Ian Mawby in the Library; and the ‘Children’s Story Corner’ with book readings for young children with Emily Hamilton and Emma Bettridge in the Bridge Inn.

Waterstones Barnstaple will again provide a popup bookshop, giving the opportunity for author-signed books to be purchased in perfect time for Christmas gifts!

Entries for the annual Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival Children’s Writing Competition are coming in – this year’s theme for writers aged under 13 is ‘Magical Exmoor’. Prizes will be presented by former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child CBE.  Click HERE for the Competition poster and all the details.

Festival Director, Ali Pegrum said “We are thrilled that so many extraordinarily talented writers are coming to our charming moorland town, bringing an often-requested slice of literary culture to Exmoor.  Our huge thanks to the many local businesses and individuals for sponsoring the event, thus enabling it to go ahead for a third consecutive year.”

Full details of the all that’s taking place over the Festival weekend – and details of the pre-Festival special nostalgic cine film evening on 25 October – can be found HERE.

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Winners of the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival Children’s Writing Competition

Dulverton’s favourite historical fiction writer, Kate Lord Brown, was again given the impossible task of choosing the winner and two runners up for the 2023 Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival Children’s Writing Competition.

This year there were 26 remarkable, top level entries from children under the age of 13 from right across Devon, Somerset and Exmoor.  The theme for this year’s competition was to write a story of up to 500 words on farming, life on a farm – really anything to do with farms, to link with Michael Morpurgo’s love of farming and his charity Farms for City Children.  See below the competition entry poster designed by Rebecca Day of The Toad Hall Company.

The entries for the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival Children’s Writing Competition came in from far and wide – Bolham to Watchet, Bideford to Wiveliscombe – and the winner was 6 year old Fergus Brewer from Horner, near Minhead.  12 year old Amelia Toms from Bideford and 6 year old Jack Richard from Wiveliscombe were the excellent runners up.  All of them received prizes donated by Waterstones Barnstaple presented by the UK’s leading family author, Michael Morpurgo – who had just spent an hour on the festival stage chatting about his writing, farming and of course the wonderful ‘War Horse’ book, film and theatre production.

Pictured above from left to right are: Kate Lord Brown, Amelia Toms, Fergus Brewer, Jack Richards, Michael Morpurgo.

Read Fergus’ winning story here:

Bob’s Big Battle by Fergus Brewer (age 6)

Below the biggest mountain on Exmoor was a little place called Evie Farm.

It was full of wildlife and nature, but the farm was sold to a farmer who wasn’t very nice to the soil.

In the soil the microorganisms, the bacteria and fungi were having a fun time playing with each other.

The leader of the bacteria was called Bob, he was the king of the soil bacteria.

Bob is a green soil bacteria, with two small green legs and one eye with a wide smile. A friendly king who loves to play, the bacteria are invisible to humans.

While they were all playing on a sunny day, a sprayer came to the farm and the sprayer declared he would deploy his booms then travelled up and down and released the chemicals.

Luckily Bob knew just what to do.

He asked his friends the fungi to help, Bob and his fellow bacteria used the fungi to boost their strength.

Then Bob and his bacteria army headed to battle

They used their nets to capture the chemicals.

Pow, tang, whallop, urghh, kapoom

and took them deep deep deep deep underground.

And then left them there forever so they couldn’t harm the rivers, animals and soil.

The fungi and bacteria had the biggest party ever with little glow worms as their glowsticks.

The worms sang, the dung beetles played their rock and roll guitars.

People could hear them from miles around, when the party finished the microorganisms decided to take over the soil banishing the chemicals forever.

The new farmers heard their song and sent the sprayer to the scrap yard.

 

 

 

 

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Curtains down on the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023

The curtain came down on the evening of Sunday 19 November on the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023 to rapturous applause and fabulous feedback from the speakers, sponsors and members of the audience.  ‘The Exmoor event of the year’ according to Mrs W of North Devon and ‘thank you for two wonderfully interesting and stimulating days’ from Ms G of Somerset; and ‘congratulations on creating the most wonderfully diverse, yet completely connected literary festival’, from editor Mrs M.

From the ‘Survival and Adventure’ talk L to R: travel publisher Hilary Bradt, British explorer Belinda Kirk, festival director Ali Pegrum, UK military survival expert John Hudson

A wide variety of talks and topics

Michael Morpurgo’s talk on Sunday was an event highlight – where he chatted with writer Alice Thomson about his classic ‘War Horse’ and treated the audience of all ages to a reading of a poem about the tortoise and hare, and even sang a beautiful folk song.  ‘Morpurgo was a complete joy’ wrote Mrs B of Dulverton.

 

Rachel Johnson’s (pictured above) enlightening talk about her life in the political arena attracted another huge audience, in conversation with art critic Rachel Campbell-Johnston.  Writers Julian Glover and Victoria Eveleigh discussed the complexities of the use and protection of the countryside, in the company of a fascinated audience that included many Exmoor farmers and landowners.

 

‘Duchesses Behaving Badly’ became the in-house title for a lively talk with historical biographers Andrew Lownie and Catherine Ostler.  Their books about Edward VIII and the Duchess of Windsor, and the 18thC Duchess of Kingston sold like hot cakes in the popup event bookshop run by Waterstones of Barnstaple.

 

Other topics in the weekend’s programme included railways, wine, the benefits of challenge and adventure, and creativity in its many forms – the latter with writer Albert Read, celebrity photographer Harry Borden and editor Miranda Taylor.  Lovers of fiction were treated to a talk with three remarkable novelists – Sarah Turner, Hannh Richell and Janet Ellis – all of whom have new books in the pipeline coming very soon.  Janet, a former Blue Peter presenter, said ‘the atmosphere couldn’t have been nicer and [the whole event] sparkled!’

The Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023 Children’s Writing Competition

Historical novelist Kate Lord Brown judged the festival’s Children’s Writing Competition and Michael Morpurgo handed the prizes to winner Fergus Brewer (age 6) and runners up Amelia Toms (age 12) and Jack Richards (age 6).  Fergus’ incredibly imaginative and creative story delighted the audience and can be found here on this website. Pictured above are L to R: Kate Lord Brown, runner up Amelia Toms, winner Fergus Brewer, runner up Jack Richards, Michael Morpurgo.

 

The event was sponsored by local businesses Tozers Solicitors, Amicus Law, Stockham Farm Exmoor, The Exclusive Cake Company, Exmoor Character Cottages, Exmoor News, First Design, Hedley Price, Jeff Pegrum Landscaping, Maitland Walker, Osteo & Physio Tiverton,  Risdon Hosegood, The Sip Shed, Town Mills, Ware Construction, Wellhayes Vineyard, Winsbere House, The Bridge Inn Dulverton, James Pryce Tractors, Masons Kings, Rothwell & Dunworth and Fabula Arts.

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Just 5 Days until the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival!

It’s just 5 days before a host of celebrated authors, writers and speakers descend on the charming moorland town of Dulverton for the second Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival. Michael Morpurgo, William Sitwell, Janet Ellis, Rachel Johnson, Andrew Lownie, Sarah Turner, Catherine Ostler, Albert Read… to name but a few.

 

A few tickets remain for some of the ten author talks taking place across the weekend of 18 and 19 November in Dulverton Town Hall.  There will be tickets available on the door but online booking is strongly advised to avoid disappointment.  Tickets here!

 

Do you want to learn about the South West’s lost railways; the truth behind Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson’s relationship; how to grow a vineyard in Britain’s climate; how embarking on an adventure is good for your wellbeing…?  All of these discussions will be had at the festival, and more.

 

Creative writing workshops for adults and children are also taking place in Dulverton Library on the Saturday afternoon.  An excellent opportunity to begin realising your dream of writing your first book!

 

Author Kate Lord Brown has once again had the difficult task of judging the many entries for the Festival Children’s Writing Competition and the winner and runners up will be revealed on Sunday – with prizes presented to them by one of the UK’s favourite writers, Michael Morpurgo.

 

The event has been generously sponsored by local businesses Tozers Solicitors, Amicus Law, Stockham Farm Exmoor, The Exclusive Cake Company, Exmoor Character Cottages, Exmoor News, Wellhayes Vineyard, First Design, Friendship & Sons, Hedley Price, Jeff Pegrum Landscaping, Maitland Walker, Osteo & Physio, Risdon Hosegood, The Sip Shed, Town Mills, Ware Construction, Winsbere House, The Bridge Inn Dulverton, James Pryce Tractors, Masons Kings, Rothwell & Dunworth and Fabula Arts.

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Dulverton’s Creative Writing Workshops

Have you ever dreamt of writing a book?

Or perhaps illustrating a book for children?

Thanks to the support of our newly-acquired Creative Writing Workshop Sponsor, Amicus Law Solicitors, the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023 will feature three different workshops suitable for both adults and children.

The workshops are all to be held in Dulverton Library on Saturday 18 November.

1.30 – 2.30 PRESENTATION & PLANNING A PICTURE BOOK WITH ANNABEL COLLIS

Suitable for adults and children age 12+ (10 spaces available) BOOK TICKETS HERE

Annabel Collis, author of You Can’t Catch Me will explain how she develops her ideas into story boards, dummy books and creates artwork.  There will be time for questions to discuss your ideas and an opportunity to plot and plan your own story to develop in the future.

Author Annabel Collis

Author Annabel Collis

2.45 – 3.45 CHILDREN’S CREATIVE WRITING & ILLUSTRATING WORKSHOP WITH ANNABEL COLLIS

Family workshop for children aged 4+ (10 child spaces available) BOOK TICKETS HERE

Annabel will read one of her stories and you will then have the chance to plot your own story and create a piece of artwork using an exciting variety of collage materials (all supplied). Annabel is passionate about children’s books and encouraging children’s creativity and reading skills. A fun, family activity.

Up to two children must be accompanied by an adult with free admission.

Children and adults drawing and writing

Adults and children enjoying the creative writing workshop

4.00 – 5.30 CHILDREN’S “ACTIVE WRITING” WORKSHOP WITH JAMES GILLAM OF FABULA ARTS

Family workshop for children aged 6+ (15 child spaces available) BOOK TICKETS HERE

The Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival is delighted to be working this year with Fabula Arts, a local company that believes in the importance of an education that encourages children’s inherent creativity. Join in this fun, inspirational festival workshop with Fabula Arts founder James Gillam to compose your own exciting story, with opportunities throughout to act out your characters and plot. Up to two children must be accompanied by an adult with free admission.

Children acting and dancing

Children enjoying an active writing session with Fabula Arts

The event has been sponsored by local businesses Amicus Law Solicitors, Tozers Solicitors, The Exclusive Cake Company, Exmoor Character Cottages, Exmoor News, First Design, Friendship & Sons, Hedley Price, Jeff Pegrum Landscaping, Maitland Walker, Osteo & Physio, Risdon Hosegood, The Sip Shed, Stockham Farm Exmoor, Town Mills, Ware Construction, Wellhayes Vineyard, Winsbere House, The Bridge Inn Dulverton, James Pryce Tractors, Masons Kings, Rothwell & Dunworth and Fabula Arts.

 

For full details of the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023 and to book tickets to all author talks and creative writing workshops, please visit here.

 

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Tickets selling fast for the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023

Have you had a chance to buy your tickets to November’s Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023? They’re selling fast! The event is to be held in Dulverton Town Hall across the weekend of Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November, with online ticket sales via this Visit Dulverton website.  Listen to the podcast to hear Festival Director, Ali Pegrum, chatting about all the speakers who are going to attend.

Michael Morpurgo, interviewed by Alice Thomson, was destined to be a popular event and tickets to his talk sold out within just three weeks!  However budding writers will still have the opportunity of meeting one of the UK’s most celebrated authors if they enter the Festival Children’s Writing Competition, as Mr Morpurgo will be presenting the prizes to the lucky winners!

Festival programmes and details of the writing competition and creative writing workshops have been delivered to schools right across the area.  “Last year’s competition had some brilliant entries from children from Barnstaple to Bolham and Timberscombe to Tiverton – we’re hoping that will be repeated this year”, said Ali.  Full details of the competition and the workshops can be found in the programme.

Other talks not to miss over the Festival Weekend include Rachel Johnson, with writer Rachel Campbell-Johnston; historical biographers Andrew Lownie and Catherine Ostler; and best-selling novelists Janet Ellis, Sarah Turner and Hannah Richell. Restaurant critic William Sitwell with wine writer Henry Jeffreys; Julian Glover and Victoria Eveleigh asking ‘What is our countryside for?’; and photographer Harry Borden and writer Albert Read discussing creativity with Miranda Taylor. British explorers Belinda Kirk and John Hudson with Hilary Bradt; well-known ITV sports reporter Dennis Coath; and local railway historians Freddie Huxtable, Ian Coleby and Amyas Crump.

 

The event has been sponsored by local businesses Tozers Solicitors, The Exclusive Cake Company, Exmoor Character Cottages, Exmoor News, First Design, Friendship & Sons, Hedley Price, Jeff Pegrum Landscaping, Maitland Walker, Osteo & Physio, Risdon Hosegood, The Sip Shed, Stockham Farm Exmoor, Town Mills, Ware Construction, Wellhayes Vineyard, Winsbere House, The Bridge Inn Dulverton, James Pryce Tractors, Masons Kings, Rothwell & Dunworth and Fabula Arts.

For full details of the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023 – including the creative writing workshops specifically for children – visit here.

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Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival Children’s Writing Competition

The Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023 sees the return of the popular Children’s Writing Competition.

The competition is for children aged 12 and under – with prizes donated by our friends at Waterstones Barnstaple to be presented on the stage on Sunday 19 November to the Winner and Runners Up by Michael Morpurgo himself!

Entries are now open and will close on 31 October; the organisers have mentioned to many local schools across Exmoor, Devon and Somerset that this could be a great writing project for this term’s English curriculum and over the October half term break.  The theme this year is to write a story about farming, farm animals or farm life, with the story to be written in no more than 500 words.

The Competition Judge is historical fiction writer, Kate Lord Brown.  Kate has said “We don’t mind about perfect spelling and grammar, just let your imagination fly and have fun! If you enjoy pictures, you can illustrate your story too. Why not think about the incredible landscape, animals and people who live on our local farms here on Exmoor? Enjoy writing something original with a great plot, characters and language. Write a story you’d love to read!”

See the poster below for the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival Children’s Writing Competition 2023 Rules of Entry and email your story to hello@visitdulverton.com. Alternatively, pop your entry in the special box in Dulverton Post Office. Remember to leave your name, address and contact details – and that final entries to be submitted by 31 October.

Poster illustrations kindly provided by Rebecca Day, The Toad Hall Company.

For full details of the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023 – including the creative writing workshops specifically for children – visit here.

Good luck and happy writing!

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Tickets for the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023 go live!

The programme for the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023 is complete, packed with top name author talks across Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November in Dulverton Town Hall.  Tickets are NOW ON SALE HERE and the printed programme is available to pick up from locations across Exmoor, Devon and Somerset.

 

Michael Morpurgo needs no introduction as one of the UK’s most celebrated writers – he will be conversing with writer Alice Thomson on his new book about life on his Devon farm.  Rachel Johnson will talk about her fascinating life in the political arena, with writer Rachel Campbell-Johnston.  Historical biographers Andrew Lownie and Catherine Ostler will discuss their biographies of two very different duchesses involved in scandals, interviewed by historical novelist Kate Lord Brown.  This year’s ‘Book Club’ fiction panel will include best-selling novelists Janet Ellis, Sarah Turner and Hannah Richell.

 

Restaurant critic and MasterChef judge William Sitwell will be with award-winning wine writer Henry Jeffreys on the remarkable revolution of British vineyards. Julian Glover, writer and author of the Government’s Landscapes Review: National Parks and AONBs will be with Exmoor farmer and writer Victoria Eveleigh discussing ‘What is our countryside for?’  Another fascinating session will be celebrity photographer Harry Borden and writer Albert Read in conversation with travel editor Miranda Taylor on the subject of enhancing creativity.

 

Dulverton will also welcome British explorer Belinda Kirk, UK top survival expert John Hudson and travel writer Hilary Bradt discussing survival and adventure.  Well-known ITV sports reporter Dennis Coath will recount some funny anecdotes from his many interviews over the years; and local railway historians Freddie Huxtable, Ian Coleby and Amyas Crump will talk on the subject of our local lost railways.

 

Festival Director, Ali Pegrum said “There is already a huge buzz about the 2023 Literary Festival right across Exmoor and tickets are selling fast!  Our thanks to the amazing group of writers for taking part in the event and creating a literary celebration of which Devon and Somerset should be very proud.”

 

The popular Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival Children’s Writing Competition returns, with prizes donated by Waterstones Barnstaple to be presented this year by Michael Morpurgo.  Waterstones will again provide a popup bookshop in the Town Hall with author book signing.  Creative writing workshops for adults and children will be held in Dulverton Library on the Saturday.  All information and tickets can be found via visdulverton.com.

 

The event has been generously sponsored by local businesses Tozers Solicitors, The Exclusive Cake Company, Exmoor Character Cottages, Exmoor News, First Design, Friendship & Sons, Hedley Price, Jeff Pegrum Landscaping, Maitland Walker, Osteo & Physio, Risdon Hosegood, The Sip Shed, Stockham Farm Exmoor, Town Mills, Ware Construction, Wellhayes Vineyard, Winsbere House, The Bridge Inn Dulverton, James Pryce Tractors, Masons Kings, Rothwell & Dunworth and Fabula Arts.

 

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The Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2023

Dulverton is delighted to announce the return of the popular Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival in November 2023. Following the success of last year’s event, the 2023 festival is packed full of author talks across Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th November in Dulverton Town Hall, with an invitation-only Festival Drinks Party too!

The festival programme is almost complete with a great mix of talks on many diverse topics. Look out for the online and printed programmes with online tickets due to go on sale later in the summer.

Well known names, including Sir Michael Morpurgo!

Top names will be attending, including Sir Michael Morpurgo with a brand new book about life on his Devon farm due out this autumn, in conversation with writer Alice Thomson. Historical biographers Andrew Lownie and Catherine Ostler will discuss their recent biographies of two very different duchesses involved in very different scandals – Lownie’s Traitor King – the Scandalous Exile of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson) and Ostler’s The Duchess Countess (18thC Duchess of Richmond, Countess of Bristol) interviewed by Dulverton’s historical novelist Kate Lord Brown.

This year’s ‘Book Club’ fiction panel will including best-selling novelists Sarah Turner (Instagram’s @theummumsymum) and her debut novel Stepping Up; former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis The Butcher’s Hook; and Hannah Richell with The River Home and The Search Party to be released in January 2024.

Local celebrity and MasterChef judge William Sitwell returns to the 2023 festival interviewing award-winning writer Henry Jeffreys Vines in a Cold Climate on the subject of British wines. Former SPAD to David Cameron, Julian Glover OBE and author of the Government’s Landscapes Review: National Parks and AONBs will be talking to Exmoor’s favourite farmer and writer Victoria Eveleigh discussing ‘What is our countryside for?’  Perfect for an Exmoor audience! Another fascinating session will be celebrity photographer Harry Borden Survivor: A portrait of the survivors of the Holocaust & On Divorce and writer Albert Read with his newly released The Imagination Muscle in conversation with travel editor Miranda Taylor on the topic of creativity.

Dulverton will also welcome British explorer Belinda Kirk, UK survival expert John Hudson and travel writer Hilary Bradt.  Welsh vet Sion Rowlands will tell tales from his hilarious book Letting the Cat Out of the Bag and well-known sports reporter Dennis Coath will recount some funny anecdotes from his many interviews over the years.

Other writers are being confirmed for the event, not least local railway historians Freddie Huxtable, Ian Coleby and Amyas Crump on the subject of Exmoor, Somerset and Devon’s lost railways. Plans are also being made for creative writing workshops to be held in Dulverton Library during the event.

Get ready for the Children’s Writing Competition 2023

The festival will also see the return of the under-12’s Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival Children’s Writing Competition, with prizes donated by our friends at Waterstones Barnstaple to be presented this year by Sir Michael Morpurgo.  Waterstones will again be providing a popup bookshop at the festival with author book signing.

Keep an eye on the Festival page of this website for all the information.

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Literary Festival Children’s Writing Competition Winning Entry

At the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2022, the Children’s Writing Competition judge, historical fiction author Kate Lord Brown, announced the winner and runners up of the competition on the stage in front of a large audience – including the well known children’s authors Claire Barker and Victoria Eveleigh.

Kate had been given the very enjoyable (but difficult!) task of choosing a winner from amongst the 22 entries received – which is apparently a greater number than received at the Appledore Book Festival writing competition!  The excellent stories were from children from Barnstaple, South Molton, South Devon, Dulverton, Winsford, East Anstey, Cutcombe, Bampton, Brushford, Exebridge and more!  With ages ranging from 5 to 11.
The winner was Orla Scandrett, age 8, with her story ’The Hungry Deer’ (see below) – which Kate read out to the audience at the festival.  Runners up were Thomas Hill, age 7, and Kirsty Tyrrell, age 10.
Pictured above from left to right: Claire Barker (children’s author), Orla Scandrett, Victoria Eveleigh (children’s author) and Kate Lord Brown (historical fiction author and writing competition judge).

Here is Orla’s winning story…

The Hungry Deer

Once there lived a hungry red deer in the middle of Exmoor. His name is rocket, and he lives in a heard. They like to eat heather, whortleberries, and brambles but rocket no longer liked anything that the other deer ate.  That night Rocket left his old family oak tree and sneaked to Richards, the Exmoor rangers house.

As ranger Richard was putting his kayaks away, Rocket spotted a half-eaten bacon sandwich on a moss-covered wall.  Licking his lips, Rocket stared at the scrumptious looking food, finally deciding to eat it. suddenly, with a puff of smoke he turned into a human boy.

No longer did rocket have his beautiful brown fur, and on his head sat a tuft of black hair where his precious antlers once were.  His two toed hoof was now a five toed foot.  He tried to bellow his deep throated call to his herd but all that came out was a high-pitched scream.

Rocket was so happy that he was no longer a red deer, and he could enjoy his life as a boy.  Desperate to show his herd, Rocket ran after them.  Rockets herd were busy munching on the grass when they saw a terrifying sight.  A human running towards them!

They galloped in different directions desperately seeking a hedgerow to hide in.  Poor Rocket was left standing on the moor cold and lonely.  He missed his herd.  He missed the beautiful sights of his kingdom, especially his oak tree which he loved scratching his antlers on.

Woody, the wise barn owl, swooped down and perched on the family oak tree.  “I’ve been watching you very closely, now its time that you watch and learn”!  Rocket, as all the Exmoor animals do, listened closely to Woody.

For the next few days, Rocket watched the humans.  They were constantly going to work and school.  Everything they did was rushed, not once did they stop and look at the beautiful moor.  Why did they not admire the landscape in which they lived?

From a safe place, Rocket watched his family.  They took their time moving freely around the moor, picking at the lovely, green, juicy grass.  They would stand and look at their surroundings.  They showed respect to all animals.

When Woody returned, Rocket was nervous.  “You must choose Rocket.  stay in your human form or return to your herd as a red deer.”

Rocket knew instantly. He wanted to be a red deer. He wanted to live his life slowly and proudly on the beautiful Exmoor.  Human food was nice, but they never stopped to look.  They never slowed down to listen. With a puff of smoke, Rocket raced back to his family as a stag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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