It's been a while! The Reading the Forest podcast launched (dropped?) its first ever episode in January 2021. 007's Angel and the Plot to Burn the Forest was the first episode of 'The Stories Behind the Stories' our series investigating the truth - or often otherwise! - behind some of the Forest's most enduring literary tales and tropes. That first episode traced the long-held belief that the Spanish Armada of 1588 had orders to burn down the woods of the Forest of Dean. Along the way we explored Boys Own author Tom Bevan, founding fellow of the Royal Society John Evelyn, and a literary hoax of the 1960s linking occultist John Dee with James Bond!! Other episodes looked into 'the killing of the bears', and the many Forest ghost stories. Our second series 'Poetry Now' focused on interviews with and readings from three contemporary Forest poets: Maggie Clutterbuck, Stewart Carswell and the late Dick Brice. You can listen to all previous episodes of the podcast now via Spotify or simply click ‘PODCAST’ in the menu bar above.
 
So, it’s exciting after all this time to announce a special, one-off new episode of the podcast!
 
Friend of Reading the Forest radio broadcaster and podcaster Joanna Durrant has been traveling across the Forest with historian and RTF co-director Dr Roger Deeks looking into the life, times and work of ‘the Forest poetess’ Catherine Drew (1784-1867). As well as exploring her recently rediscovered poems, they spoke to an expert in c19th paper making to find out the sort of work that Catherine’s father did at Gunn’s Mill, interviewed book collector and publisher John Saunders about his 2002 publication of her work, and one of the many desendants of Catherine living in America. And, for the first time in probably 100years, working with local genealogist Eric Nichols, Roger will reveals the exact spot where Catherine lived with her husband James and their family in Cinderford.  
 
On 19th September Roger, Jo and participants in the podcast are meeting at Dean Heritage Centre for an exclusive ‘listening party’ as the trailer for the new episode goes live. You can listen to the new episode itself from 28th September onwards. Search on Spotify for the Reading the Forest Podcast or listen via our PODCAST page here - once there just click play.

The new podcast episode is part of the Forest of Dean Writers Collection project led by University of Gloucestershire in partnership with Dean Heritage Centre. The project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.