Many of us first encounter poetry at school, and sometimes it’s hard to shake the association with rigid analysis, rote learning and awkward recital in front of class. However, like all of literature and art at large, poetry is human experience turned into creative expression – a vital record of who we are, how we live, and what makes us tick.

This curated collection explores poetry’s relationship with language and landscape. These poets draw inspiration from their surroundings, from the contours of the country to their local communities and cultures, and use the form of poetry and performance to bend, twist and enliven the languages that we hear around us every day.

Here you will find programmes delving into the environments that have inspired poets from Liverpool to the Lake District and beyond, as well as performances that showcase a diverse range of spoken language and dialects from across the UK. Far from a stuffy institution, poetry endures and thrives thanks to a mixture of tradition and innovation, with vibrant work that is by turns playful, poignant, personal and political.