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These monthly sessions are led by the brilliant Christina Trenhaile, whose linocut workshops at Southlands have become so popular that we’re now offering a regular slot for anyone who wants to keep exploring the craft. And in August, we’re adding a bonus session with a fresh subject to inspire you even further.

Whether you’re a complete beginner wanting to try linocut for the first time, or someone with a bit more experience who’d like to develop your technique, experiment with new ideas, or simply enjoy having access to the tools and materials in a friendly studio environment, you’ll be very welcome.

Christina creates a relaxed, supportive atmosphere where you can work at your own pace, carve, ink, print, chat, and enjoy the rhythm of the process. Each session stands alone, so you can come once or join us every month as your skills grow.

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Join Bea Ysolda for an accessible talk about the evolving stories of climate change, and how these have changed since the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI). For decades, global efforts have been made to understand climate change and why it is happening. The narrative is now changing. Tech giants are saying that AI is going to swoop in and fix all global issues. Is the earth really worth risking while we wait for Superman?

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As autumn deepens and the evenings draw close, the Southlands Writers Salon invite you to a night shaped by shadows, winter hush, and the quiet feeling of something just there, near, present, but unseen.

Christmas Presence

presence /ˈprez.əns/

A new anthology of ghost stories by the Southlands Writers Salon will be launched at this event, with copies available to buy on the night.

Join us for an intimate evening of readings, conversation, and mid‑season atmosphere. Your ticket includes a glass of wine or a soft drink, and copies of Christmas Presence will be available to purchase on the night, with all proceeds supporting Southlands Arts Centre.

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Participants are invited to bring along a small object of personal significance – something ordinary, sentimental, forgotten, or quietly meaningful. Through guided prompts, shared reading, and supported writing time, the workshop explores how everyday objects can unlock memory, emotion, and story, and how small moments often carry the biggest feelings.

There’s no pressure to share and no expectation of prior writing experience. Jaspreet creates a warm, supportive space that encourages curiosity, reflection, and connection through words.

Ideal for first-time writers, returning poets, and anyone curious about how poetry can grow from the details of everyday life.

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Samantha’s book – The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in France 1917 – 1921, published by Pen and Sword Books, will be available to purchase at the event.

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Over two hours, writer and Birkbeck professor Julia Bell will guide you through practical exercises in looking, listening and writing closely. Drawing on the ideas in her books Radical Attention (Peninsula Press) and Between the Lines (Simon & Schuster), and on Simone Weil’s idea of attention as a moral and democratic act, the session moves between short readings, guided writing prompts and open discussion. You’ll leave with new work on the page and a set of tools for reading and writing more attentively.

No experience necessary — just bring something to write with and a willingness to slow down.

Julia Bell is a writer and Professor of New Writing at Birkbeck, University of London, where she co-directs the Centre for New Writing and has taught creative writing for nearly thirty years. Her books include the essay Radical Attention (Peninsula Press), the memoir-in-verse Hymnal (Parthian), and Between the Lines (Simon & Schuster). Radical Attention, first published in 2020, is reissued in September 2026 with a new introduction by Grace Blakeley. Her work centres on Simone Weil’s idea of attention as a moral and democratic practice, and ranges across fiction, essay and poetry. She writes the Substack Between the Lines and lives in London.

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Life rarely stands still. Whether you’ve changed jobs, retired, moved home, welcomed a new baby, experienced bereavement, watched children leave the nest, or are navigating any other major shift, transitions can stir up complex emotions.

This gentle, supportive workshop with Jo Eastop offers space to explore those feelings through short, accessible writing activities designed to promote wellbeing. No writing experience is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to pause and reflect.

Research by Pennebaker & Evans suggests that ‘writing seems beneficial when you are trying to make sense of an event you don’t yet understand.’

Through guided exercises, you’ll discover how writing about emotional experiences can help you process change and find clarity.

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• An overview of the site What The Bunker actually is, how it was built, and the purpose it originally served.
• A brief history From Second World War origins to the decades of secrecy that shaped its story.
• How the site became a museum The journey from a restricted government facility to a public space dedicated to education, preservation, and community engagement.
• What it’s like to work at The Bunker A behind‑the‑scenes glimpse into daily life underground: the atmosphere, the challenges, the unexpected joys, and the unique perspective that comes from caring for such an extraordinary place.

This session offers a rare chance to hear first‑hand stories from someone who knows the site intimately, part history, part personal insight, and entirely unlike anything else in our LitOct 2026 programme.

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Through playful exercises and gentle guided prompts, you’ll discover how small choices can open big stories. You might even begin by choosing a character’s name from our lucky‑dip box, a simple starting point that can lead anywhere and everywhere.

This is a relaxed, creative session designed to help you invent characters who feel real enough to step off the page.

Perfect for new writers, seasoned storytellers, and anyone who loves exploring the strange, delightful business of making people up.

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