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Only Child & the Natural World 2008
A One Day Conference & Masterclass for Adult Onlies
Saturday 12 July | 9.15am-5.30pm | Marston Vale | Bedfordshire

'Alone was good. When very little, I used it for playing in summer in the shallows of the creek, making bridges and crewing ships with conscript ants; later, I enjoyed long dreamy walks and telling myself stories based at first on the free-form stories my father would spin as I followed him around the farm.'

(Les Murray – from an interview with Pauline Smith, 2007)

This year's conference combines two loves - nature and writing - whilst offering you the unique opportunity to meet and swap notes with other adult onlies in an equally unique environment.

The Theme
In 2006, the writing workshop was so popular, I've asked Pauline Smith to return and extend the opportunity, hence this year's masterclass. For those who would also like to talk and share their experiences with each other directly, there is the chance to work in a group with me, Ann Richardson, in the afternoon.

The 'natural world' is our theme. Did you have a favourite tree that held you high in its embrace, from where you could look down and out across the world? Did you find as a child that writing was a way of safely expressing your feelings and clearing your head? Do you still? Then today is for you. But more important than a specific theme is the general theme of being an only child where you can share with others, anything about your only childhood or present day experience.

The Day
Session 1
Ann Richardson, Director BeingAnOnly, Psychotherapist
Ann is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and has specialised in working with only children. She is Founder of BeingAnOnly, has facilitated many workshops and organised two conferences.

An only child, by definition, does not grow up with other children in the immediate family. With no peer witness or companion, it can be difficult to develop a sense of self. Life in such a small unit fuelled only by adult/s can feel intense and demanding. For some, writing was a form of release, a way to get the feelings out and the head calm. For others, the sense of connection to a larger living entity is what nature offered - a sense of belonging with no demands.

Drawing from her own work, Ann will present an overview of common only child experiences, highlight resources and research and talk about the importance of peer validation. She will invite you to connect to your early memories of being an only child and begin the conversation.

Session 2
Pauline Smith, Freelance Writer and Researcher
Pauline Smith is a freelance writer and researcher, with an MA in Creative writing from the University of Exeter. She is also an only child and carried out postgraduate research into how a lack of siblings affects the output and processes of published authors and poets. The work also looks at how the only child is portrayed in western literature.

In February of this year, an extract from Messiah Children was published in the world-renowned literary journal PN Review - an intimate interview with Australia’s leading poet Les Murray, A Proper Conscious Loner examines Murray’s upbringing as an only child in the Australian outback and focuses heavily on his relationship with the harsh natural environment that was his childhood home and how it led him to write collections of poems such as Translations from the Natural World.

The Meaning of Existence

Everything except language
knows the meaning of existence.
Trees, planets, rivers, time
know nothing else. They express it
moment by moment as the universe.

Even this fool of a body
lives it in part, and would
have full dignity within it
but for the ignorant freedom
of my talking mind.
(from Poems the Size of Photographs, Les Murray 2002)

Using this intensely personal and vivid account as a starting point, Pauline will compare it to her own connections to nature throughout a childhood in North Devon and invite you to take a journey back in time, reconnect to the natural environment that surrounded you and carry that forward to more fully understand the person you are today.

Exploring your only childhood through writing can be a liberating, emotional, sometimes frightening experience. Pauline will allow you to find your own words at your own pace in privacy or in a small group, with a selection of techniques designed to encourage not alienate. You need no previous writing experience whatsoever, nor will you will be forced into or out of places you don’t want to go. You will not have to share your experiences if you don’t want to, but if you feel sufficiently released, the joy of writing can become intensely liberating and revealing - a real pleasure to share with your fellow onlies in an environment of like-mindedness and support. Let go as much or as little as you want to.

Session 3
A choice for you to make on the day:
Masterclass
- continue work on your writing with Pauline
Group Work
- explore your experiences of being an only child now and in childhood in group work with Ann
Walk
- take a walk guided by one of the Seasonal Rangers

The walk will combine local history and natural history to give you a picture of what was here 30 years ago and what it might look like in 30 years! We will be looking at the different habitats on site, woodland, wetland and grassland. The Millennium Country Park is very young in country park terms at only 8 years old. Therefore it is a great time to see the changes to the age and structure of the different habitats. This is a gentle stroll on paths for about an hour and a half. There will be a chance to discover hidden living willow huts and hopefully some wildlife.

Closing Session
A chance to feed back and complete the day.

The Venue
The Forest Centre at Marston Vale is set in 250 hectares of parkland and is a simple purpose built conference centre which looks on to a lake, wetland reserve and woodlands beyond. Set in the heart of England it's easy to get to from anywhere in the country. There is ample car parking, all facilities are on the ground floor and it is run by a small and friendly team.

It is part of a 40 year project which covers over 61 square miles. The team, has been working to repair decades of industrial use by improving the landscape and environment.

In the first 17 years they have:
- planted over a million trees
- planted or restored 50 km of hedgerow
- created 75km of field margins to benefit farm wildlife
- launched 6 Forest Trails
- brought 300 hectares of existing woodland into management

Profits from conferences held at the Forest Centre are reinvested in to the project.

Directions

Rail
The Centre is within walking distance of Millbrook and Stewartby railway stations.

Car
5 minutes from J13 off the M1, at Marston Moretaine near Bedford.

Air
Nearest airports, East Midlands, Birmingham and Luton.

Food
Food is always an important and integral part of BeingAnOnly experience. At the Forest Centre, it is locally sourced and home made.

Weather permitting, we shall be having a summer barbecue on the terrace. Weather not permitting, we shall be having a summer barbecue in the light and airy dining room inside looking out on to the terrace and beyond!

Menu includes veg and non-veg.

Over to you
I've chosen Saturday as the organised event day, so that there is Sunday available. In the past, people have not wanted to stop! So, if you want to build some flexibility in to your programme, there are places to stay nearby and there is plenty of the Forest Vale left for you to explore the next day with new friends, if you'd like, or space to organise a picnic with others. There are walking and bike trails and you can hire bikes on site. I leave it to you.

BeingAnOnly reserves the right to change the content and details at any time. Last updated 28.4.08