Centenary Wood immortalised in writing by Northern Ireland poet

by Gráinne Connolly

A new poetry collection, by local writer and poet Sam Burnside, pays tribute to a special Centenary Wood in the Faughan Valley.

The Woodland Trust-owned Brackfield Wood, near Derry/Londonderry, is one of just four flagship woods taking shape across the UK to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War. 

Still in its infancy, Brackfield will be home to some 40,000 native trees, a lasting reminder of those lives lost from across the island of Ireland, during the war. 

(Sam Burnside MBE, Writer and Poet) 

Sam Burnside’s poems in 'By Brackfield Bawn: On being in Brackfield Memorial Woods', express his deep-rooted love of the natural, rural world; with the famously scenic Faughan Valley, its river and wildlife, at the core. 

A spokesperson for the Woodland Trust said: 

"The acclaimed poet gives his nod of approval for the creation of this new memorial woodland.  The thousands of saplings, a thriving tribute, will one day link the fragments of ancient woodland that dot the banks of the beautiful River Faughan.

"It seems that the strength of nature – from the longevity of the valley’s centuries-old trees to the predictable cycle of the seasons – is in stark contrast to the frailty of human life." 
 

Patrick Cregg, director of the Woodland Trust, said:

“The poems are ready and waiting to be enjoyed by anyone with a love of words, nature, and the countryside.  

"They are also incredibly poignant and, alongside the beauty of the natural world, there’s a real sense of sadness and loss that many of us can relate to.

“We’re so grateful to Sam for capturing and immortalising the essence of Brackfield through his unique style of writing.”

Dr Sam Burnside MBE added:

“Spending time at Brackfield became a true learning experience.  The most important thing for me was the discovery of the profound silence that lies at the heart of this – and indeed any – woodland.”

Extracts from some of the poems will also form a poetry trail at Brackfield Wood, that consist of eight stone sculptures, strategically placed and each carved with lines of poetry, that will lead visitors into and through the wood, finishing at a central commemorative feature.