Outside it is beautiful produces digital audio stories set on the so-called Bentham Line - which runs 75 miles between Leeds and Morecambe with stops at Skipton, Gargrave, Hellifield, Long Preston, and Giggleswick. The project's curators are Verity Healey, Becky Cherriman, and playwright, poet, and writer for BBC Radio 4’s The Archers, Sarah Hehir. Ahead of the project's official launch in 2025, the outside it is beautiful team met with groups around the Bentham Line from October 1 to October 7.
One of these was the Settle Stories' writing group, with whose members, on Friday, October 4, a 90-minute online creative writing session was held. The focus of the session was local heritage and wildlife. This phase of outside it is beautiful will end with an audio piece written by Sarah Hehir and based on the Bentham Line route.
It will be inspired by the wildlife around the line, and serve as inspiration for the project next year. It will be showcased in Settle Stories’ Listening Gallery, the re-purposed phone box about which more can be learnt at https://www.settlestories.
org.uk/visit/the-listening-gallery/.