Poet Laureate in the Arctic

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Simon Armitage is in the Arctic to witness climate change and write new poems in response.

Simon Armitage is in the Arctic, to see for himself what's happening in a part of the world that's so crucial to the climate change debate, and to write new poems in response.

Poet Laureate in Arctic.jpg

BBC Radio 4 LW

Poet Laureate in the Arctic: Episode 1

Episode 1

BBC Radio 4 - Poet Laureate in the Arctic, Episode 1

Simon Armitage, the poet laureate, travels to the Arctic in search of facts and new poems.

Simon Armitage arrives in North Norway, inside the Arctic Circle where he hikes to the Steindalsbreen glacier with Jemma Wadham who has studied glaciology for over 25 years.

Considering  himself a nature poet and with a geography degree Simon Armitage pledged to put the environment at the heart of his thinking when he became Poet Laureate in 2019.   In this series he travels to the Arctic to see for himself what's going on in this part of the world which is so crucial to the climate change debate. He starts with a visit to a glacier 

The Steindalsbreen glacier in the Lyngen Alps is over 10 000 years old.  His guide is British biochemist Professor Jemma Wadham from UiT, the Arctic University of Norway. After a lifelong obsession with glaciers,  Jemma has recently made the north of Norway her home. Her visits to the Arctic, and Svalbard in particular, began when she was studying for her PhD. Her regular study trips mean she has witnessed the changes that are happening here due to climate change and warming for herself.  In  the Arctic and Antarctic these changes are happening four times faster than the rest of the planet.  

As well as experiencing the Arctic for himself and seeing first hand what's happening, Simon tries to capture the majesty and vulnerability of the place in new poems written in response to what he finds .


Producer - Susan Roberts

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Poet Laureate in the Arctic

Episode 1

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4