Walking through Peat for Inspiration.

I’ve got two novels on the go at the moment – neither of which need peat for inspiration but I find England’s ancient past inspiring. At present I’ve got gothic on my mind as I’m re-editing a novel. Originally a novella, a reviewer told me it didn’t go far enough. When I looked at it I agreed. There was more to it. Then discovering third person close, I just had to re-edit the whole thing.

But the peat thing and our Saxon past really resonates with me. So last Tuesday I was off to……..

The Avalon Marshes

First visit to Avalon Marshes, a magical wetland landscape at the heart of Somerset’s Levels. Surrounded by Glastonbury Tor, Isle of Avalon and some of Britain’s best wetland. Boards are part of a trackway to cross the swampy peat. Can’t wait to go back with my proper boots.

Many of the trackways were preserved and discovered by peat diggers, some in the late 1800s.  Walking the trackways, through lush, green foliage, careful not to plunge into any hidden water covered moss, you can imagine Alfred the Great’s flight into the marshes, hiding from the dreaded Vikings.

I don’t have time to percolate a story around this wonderful history but the environment makes me look for the nearest book and I choose The  Lady of Mercia  

Also did a bit of bird watching – the first time ever in a hide. Not that I knew what I was looking at. Fortunately I’ve got a friend, although also a city girl, who knows her way around a hide.

No photos of birds but a beautiful lake anyway.