Nature Features

Inspiration comes in different forms, and for a group of young people writing poetry, that inspiration was Thimblemill Brook.

The pupils from The Oaks Collegiate (a group of 10 South Birmingham schools) undertook the project to create the poetry with the aim of developing their creative writing skills and to make them more aware of their local area and environmental issues.

Twenty four students worked with writer Philip Monks to produce poems based on a visit to Thimblemill Brook in May. They looked at how humans and nature interact in this special place.

The poems will be on display at the BBC WM Springwatch event on Sunday 8th June. Philip Monks and several of the students will also be there to talk about their writing.

Philip said: "It's great to see how nature can inspire young people. I hope these poems will in turn inspire you."

Below is one of the poems written collectively by the pupils.

What We Found At Thimblemill Brook

Take a look, take a look
At what we found at Thimblemill Brook.

Coke cans and sweet wrappers,
Plastic bags and broken glass,
Gratings full of rubbish.
Don’t step in the dog mess!

Take a look, take a look
At what we found at Thimblemill Brook.

Birds’ nests, midges and gnats,
Smell of foxes, sweep of bats.
Man-made lakes, moorhens and ducks,
Bursting bubbles and spiralling ripples,
Abandoned footballs.

Take a look, take a look
At what we found at Thimblemill Brook.

Bluebells, nettles, buttercups and daisies,
Pink and white blossom, moss winding up trees.
Tyres driven the wrong way into the water.
Contrasting colours, aroma of flowers,
Cascading raindrops, fresh green leaves.

Take a look, take a look
At what we found at Thimblemill Brook.

Winding paths, carpet of cow parsley,
Dens and dams, purple rhododendrons,
Chip cones, cartons, yellow laburnum.
Plastic bottles bobbing in the water,
Twisting, meandering, human river of nature.

Take a look, take a look
At what we found at Thimblemill Brook.

Pupils poetry

And if you want to see more poems inspired by the pupils, take a look at the Friends of Thimblemill Brook website.