Salford’s punk poet Jon Cooper-Clarke has set pen to paper to create a poem to celebrate the British coastline in collaboration with the National Trust.
Named ‘Nation’s Ode to the Coast’ the poem aims to encourage the UK public to experience our coast this summer.
The public are encouraged to play their part in completing the poem by contributing some inspiring memories and their love of the coast using #lovethecoast.
The public’s contributions will provide the inspiration to Cooper-Clarke as he completes the poem.
Cooper-Clarke said of the project: “The sea has been a rich source of inspiration to me from year zero. It’s a glimpse of eternity available to every inhabitant.
“I’m right behind the National Trust on keeping the coast beautiful.”
Neptune Coastline Campaign was launched in 1965 and is one of the longest running environmental campaigns in Western Europe.
The campaign has resulted in the National Trust managing 775 miles of coast in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which is over 10% of the UK’s coastline.
Gwen Potter, wildlife and countryside ranger at the National Trust, said: “Looking after the British coastline is a big responsibility.
“Several of our properties are iconic symbols of Great Britain – from the White Cliffs of Dover, to the Gower Peninsular and the Jurassic Coast – that are visited by people from all over the world.”
Cooper-Clarke will also voiceover a specially commissioned advertising campaign launching on July 13.
Image courtesy National Trust, via Youtube, with thanks.
