National Poetry Day on BBC Local Radio

Today (Thursday 6 October) is National Poetry Day, and BBC Local Radio has celebrated in style, featuring specially written poems about different parts of the country. The poems, read by the poets who wrote them, have featured on regional radio programmes throughout the day.

The inspiration for the initiative came from Becca Bryers at BBC Radio Leicester who commissioned each of the individual poems with the support of National Poetry Day and National Poetry Day partner Apples and Snakes. She said of the project "I’ve been so impressed with the poets passionate approach to the project and the calibre of their finished pieces. There’s such a brilliant variety of poem subjects too". All 40 of the BBC Local Poets were asked to write a poem from the viewpoint of a local landmark or iconic object. It's been no mean feat to organise as David Holdsworth, Controller of English Regions explains:

"40 poems from our 40 BBC Local Radio stations to support National Poetry Day is an incredibly ambitious undertaking. I am pleased that we have been able to achieve it and thank the poets who have contributed to the project. The standard of poems is incredibly high and I think there’s something for every single one of our listeners in the mix. But we couldn’t stop at 40, we had to go one further and the 41st poem performed by Bridie Squires is exceptional and really brings together the ambition of the day."

You can hear more on the BBC Local Radio website, but we've picked out a few, who, grew on us:

"Growing up by the ocean, it’s impossible not to let it at some level, permeate your poetry,

there's some essence of it that clings to you like sea spray. I moved to Jersey from a big city as a child and this transition shaped my work. Corbiere Lighthouse is the scene of one my earliest memories" - Christian Foley

"‘Women of Steel’, is inspired by the new statue that was put up in Barker’s Pool in the summer. The statue commemorates the work that women did in the war, particularly in the munitions factories, which has only recently begun to be properly recognised. My poem is inspired by the work of these women, by recovering histories and by telling stories that we often don’t hear...it’s about celebrating our diversity and solidarity, creating sisterhood and remembering the work and stories of women" - Rachel Bower

"The Devonshire Cream Tea is not only quintessentially Devon, but also an important aspect of the British identity, so closely associated with the county. Therefore, to adopt the voice of a scone seemed the only sensible thing to do!"

• Listen to more of the 41 poems featured on BBC Local Radio throughout National Poetry Day