Poetree – A Poetic Inquiry into Interdisciplinary Learning Based on the Gaelic Tree Alphabet. Issue 3 (3rd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haggith, Mandy
• Is Part Of: Green letters. Volume 25:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 232
• Page End: 251
• Publication Date: 2021-07-03
• Subjects: Poetic inquiry -- Ecopoetry -- Trees -- Creative Writing -- Forestry -- Interdisciplinary learning; Ecocriticism -- Europe -- Periodicals; Ecocriticism; Europe; Periodicals; 809.933553
• DOI: 10.1080/14688417.2021.1982400
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-8417

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Gaelic tree alphabet is an ancient connection between trees and writing. In the Highlands of Scotland, it has recently been used as a structure for engaging people in interdisciplinary encounters at the boundary between forestry and literature, through a project called A-B-Tree. Poetic inquiry methods enabled exploration of how making a creative response to a tree can influence learning and attitudes. The A-B-Tree project has amassed evidence that tree-related wordplay is good for our well-being and stimulates and deepens thinking about trees. The poetic inquiry method has itself been a source of insights into the epistemological edge-zone between ways of knowing in poetry, folklore and forest ecology in particular and more generally between artistic practice and scientific knowledge.