Wednesday 30 March 2016

Walking with Words




These boots were made for walking...


Book lover and Yorkshire hiker, Gail Richards is walking over 200kms across the West Yorkshire landscape to celebrate our 10th anniversary and to raise £10,000 to help continue our literacy work in Ecuador, Malawi and Zambia.

Gail was inspired by the children's stories
From Hebden Bridge through Huddersfield, Wakefield and Leeds to Ilkley and onto Howarth, the 20-day loop hike throughout April will take Gail through the rich and diverse literary heritage that West Yorkshire has to offer. Gail will visit local schools, museums, groups and bookshops along the route collecting stories, join in reading and storytelling with local groups and collect unique stories, poems and word snippets from passers by as she walks over the Yorkshires hills, through valleys and along canal paths.

Said Gail “I volunteered on the Book Bus in Zambia with my daughter back in 2012 and it was one of the most inspiring times of our lives. Every day the Book Bus travels to schools and villages with books for children that have none. We shared books and stories then brought the books alive through art and drama with lots of fun thrown in."

Gail hopped aboard Book Bus Charlie working in Zambia 
Continued Gail, “Whilst in Zambia I heard the stories of some children that walked for an hour to get to school every day and an hour back, often through harsh terrain. I was so inspired by their insatiable desire to learn that I was determined to raise awareness of struggles many children have getting to school and accessing books. I love walking and I love books too I thought I’d combine these and walk through the landscape that I love, West Yorkshire.  I’m aiming to raise £10,000 to celebrate 10 years of the Book Bus and to help keep the Book Buses on the road to continue their vital projects,” concluded Gail.





Follow Gail's route across West Yorkshire 
Gail's route across West Yorkshire





Walking with Words across West Yorkshire

Walking with Words
11- 30 April 2016








Join Book Bus Volunteer Gail Richards as she walks 200 kms across West Yorkshire raising £10,000 to celebrate 10 years of the Book Bus. 



Day 1: Monday 11th April 

Walk: Mytholmroyd to Calder High School, Mytholmroyd 
Story-sharing session & presentation at Calder High School
Walk: from Calder High School to Brighouse.


Day 2: Tuesday 12th April

Walk: Brighouse to centre of Huddersfield


Day 3: Wed 13th April 

Berry Bow Infant & Nursery School assembly & story-sharing event with a class.
Walk: Moorlands Primary School to Lindley Children’s Bookshop
Event: 1-5pm The Children’s Bookshop, Lindley storytelling and activities.
For more information: www.childrensbookshuddersfield.co.uk

Day 4: Thursday 14th April

Walk: Local circuit

Day 5: Friday 15th April

Walk:  Huddersfield to Dewsbury.      

Day 6: Saturday 16th April

Walk: Spen Valley Art Trail from Dewsbury station to Oakenshaw, Bradford. Talk to people on the trail about the art and favourite books.

Day 7: Sunday 17th April

Walk: Dewsbury station to Wakefield Hepworth Gallery, story sharing and taking photographs.  

Day 8: Monday 18th April

Walk:  Wakefield to Leeds, Clarence Dock - story sharing & taking photos.
                             

Day 8: Tuesday 19th April

Walk: Local circuit 

Day 10: Wed 20th April

A fun morning full of stories, songs, dancing, instruments & dressing up for under 5s & their families/carers.
Travel underground to hear the story of local miner's. 
Walk round the NCM’s nature trail


Day 11: Thursday 21st April
Walk:  Clarence Dock, Leeds to Waterstones
Event:  4-5pm story-telling in the Children’s section of Waterstones, Leeds


Day 12: Friday 22nd April 
Walk: Leeds to Saltaire


Day 13: Saturday 23rd April        
Event at Salt’s Mill
Event: 12noon-4pm story-telling & book-sharing in the children’s corner of the Salt’s Mill Bookshop – led by Gail & local librarian Adrian Thompson. 

Day 14: Sunday 24th April 

Event: 10am-3pm Yorkshire Sculpture Park,  Rediscover & Remake and record the families’ stories of place; and photos of the children reading near statues.
www.ysp.co.uk

Day 15: Monday 25th April

Walk from Riddlesden to Ilkley, across Ilkley Moor. www.stanzastones.co.uk

Day 16: Tuesday 26th April 

Walk: Local circuit

Day 17: Wed 27th April  

Walk: Riddlesden to Keighley station visiting Rail Story and Carriage Works museums. Train from Keighley to Oakworth (diesel & railcar) to explore the “Railway Children” location, & read some of the famous story. www.kwvr.co.uk
Walk: The Railway Children circular walk, via Oxenhope & Haworth www.bronte.org.uk
Event: 6-8pm  Storytelling session in Cobbles & Clay CafĂ©, Haworth


Day 18: Thursday 28th April     

Event: Assembly & activity at Haworth Primary School 
Join the Bronte Walks: as we walk together to Top Withins’ storytelling along the way & a picnic Walk: HaworthtoTop Withins www.brontewalks.co.uk and onto  Hardcastle Crags



Day 19: Friday 29th April 

Walk: circular Hardcastle Crags Railway walk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardcastle-crags

Day 20: Saturday 30th April

Walk back through Hebden Bridge and onto Mytholmroyd. Book Trail at The Book Case, Hebden Bridge 

Donate & help Gail raise £10,000 

for the Book Bus