Bolton's Lost Words

Bolton's Lost Words was a literary and nature project funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England to reconnect the communities of Bolton using nature and reading. Inspired by the book ‘The Lost Words’ by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, seven story trails were created by the community for five parks in Bolton. Explore today by downloading their trails!


Breightmet Library - Seven Acres Estate

PARTNER: AGE UK
ARTIST: NERISSA CARGILL THOMPSON
WRITER: CAROLE OGDEN

Discover the Seven Acres story, memories and poems inside. A beautiful day – where to go, what to see? It’s got to be close and it’s got to be free, With something for all of the family - Let’s get some ideas from the library!

View the PDF (1.82MB)

Lost Words - Breightmet Library

Central Library - Queens Park

PARTNER: START WELL
ARTIST: KATE BUFTON
WRITER: JULIE PELLOWE

Stand in the circle. How many trees can you see? Are they the same or do they have different sizes, colours and smells? Have you found the lake? What wildlife can you see?

Children from Start Well explored Queen’s Park, find the natural treasures that inspire their poems...

View the PDF (13.52MB)

Lost Words - Central Library

Farnworth Library - Farnworth Park

Magical Mr Magpie

Startwell children explored Farnworth park, follow in their foot steps with Magical Mr Magpie.
 

View the PDF (9.63MB)

Lost Words - Farnworth Library

High Street Library - Heywood Park

GROUP: LIBRARY OF SANCTUARY
AND PRECIOUS GEMS
ARTIST: NAYNA LAD
WRITER: ANJUM MALIK


Community groups Precious Gems and Library of Sanctuary wrote poetry inspired by the park. Step into their shoes, by reading the poems inspired by the beautiful park around you.

View the PDF (10.24MB)

Lost Words - High Street Library

Westhoughton Library - Central Park

BEAUTY

Created as part of the Bolton’s Lost Words project 2021, in collaboration with Andrew, Chris, Colin, James, Janet, Kellie, Linda B, Linda S, Marge, Marilyn, Pete & Stephen.

Central Park is home to a lot of things you may think are beautiful, and some things you might find ugly. In this trail, we’ll rethink the way we look, to try to find beauty even in ugliness.

View the PDF (6.39MB)

Lost Words - Westhoughton Library

Westhoughton Library - Central Park

COLOUR & SHAPE

Created as part of the Bolton’s Lost Words project 2021, in collaboration with Andrew, Chris, Colin, James, Janet, Kellie, Linda B, Linda S, Marge, Marilyn, Pete & Stephen.

There are all kinds of shapes and colours hiding in plain sight in Central Park. In this trail, we’ll try to experience the park differently, from close up, from far away, from new angles, to see what we’re missing if we pass by too quickly.

View the PDF (5.9MB)

Lost Words - Westhoughton Library

Westhoughton Library - Central Park

HIDDEN

Created as part of the Bolton’s Lost Words project 2021, in collaboration with Andrew, Chris, Colin, James, Janet, Kellie, Linda B, Linda S, Marge, Marilyn, Pete & Stephen.

Central Park is home to more than meets the eye! In this trail, we’ll search for the places nature slips through the cracks, and think about how it came to be here.

View the PDF (6.25MB)

Lost Words -Westhoughton Library

The Lost Words - Book

by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris

Since the Lost Words’ publication in October 2017, this book has had a transformative effect on all who have come in contact with it. Described as a ‘cultural phenomenon’ in the Guardian, it has become a huge bestseller, has taken root in thousands of schools across Britain, been widely acclaimed as an instant classic, won numerous prizes, and inspired many creative thinkers, young and old. It was shortlisted in 2017 as one of Britain’s favourite books of all time on the natural world (alongside titles including Tarka the Otter and Gilbert White’s The Natural History of Selborne).

FIND OUT MORE

The Lost Words Book