Kendal Mountain Festival Crowns Its First Ever Poet Laureate!

Helen Mort, a well-known poet and novelist, has been named the first ever poet laureate of the Kendal Mountain Festival. This is a big honor for Helen, who has been involved with the festival for many years. She said she was 'absolutely thrilled' when she heard the news and even did a little jump for joy. The Kendal Mountain Festival has been running since 1980 and is famous for celebrating mountains, adventure, and the arts. Alongside the main festival, there is also a book festival, which is now in its tenth year. As the inaugural poet laureate, Helen Mort will have several important roles. She will help organize events for the book festival, write a special festival poem, and run the first ever children's poetry competition for schools in north-west England. The competition will focus on themes like mountains, nature, wildlife, and the outdoors.

Helen Mort said that Kendal is her favorite festival because it is so committed to the arts, especially mountain arts. She believes that this kind of dedication is rare and very important. Helen is especially excited about the children's poetry competition. She remembers that when she was a student, she took part in similar competitions. That experience helped her gain confidence and made her realize that she could be a poet. She started writing at a young age, and being recognized in a competition changed her life. It made her feel that published writers were taking her seriously, which encouraged her to keep writing.

Paul Scully, the director of the Kendal Mountain Festival's book festival, said that while they have had some poetry at the festival in the past, they now want to make poetry a bigger part of the event. He said Helen has been an important member of the festival for many years, sharing her creativity and skill in writing and poetry. The festival wants poetry to stand alongside all the other types of writing they feature, including non-fiction and fiction. The Kendal Mountain Festival is a special event that brings together people who love mountains, books, and the arts. With Helen Mort as the first poet laureate, the festival hopes to inspire more children and adults to enjoy poetry and the beauty of the outdoors.

The festival is also known for its beautiful setting, with stone steps leading to an amphitheatre and flower beds scattered around. Words are engraved in the stone, describing the river and the town, adding to the artistic atmosphere. The Kendal Mountain Festival is a place where people can celebrate nature, creativity, and community. Helen Mort is looking forward to writing new poems, organizing events, and helping young people discover the joy of poetry. The festival is proud to have her as their first poet laureate and is excited for all the new ideas and inspiration she will bring.