REDISCOVER HADDO PROJECT

Celebrating completion of Phase 1 of the Rediscover Haddo Project, a collaboration with photographer, Susan Orr.

Hello Reading Friends,

Isn’t the collage of Aberdeenshire’s Haddo Country Park just beautiful? All thanks to talented photographer friend, Susan Orr.

Last autumn, I shared my excitement when Live Life Aberdeenshire’s, Creative Aberdeenshire Network agreed to part fund Phase 1 of the Rediscover Haddo Project, a collaboration between myself (as flash fiction writer) and Susan (as local photographer). A first for us both!

Research visit to Haddo Country Park

In November 2021, when storm Arwen hit, the woodland around Haddo House took a terrible battering and lost an estimated 100,000 trees. The beautiful country park was closed for months, until it could be made safe again. Although, sadly, much had been lost, when it reopened, Susan and I wanted to focus on what still makes the place so special, and the Rediscover Haddo Project was born.

Huge area of forest flattened by Storm Arwen
Work done to make Haddo Country Park safe again

WHAT DID WE DISCOVER?

By focusing on Haddo’s hidden corners, we explored the park’s unique past, unearthing a range of wonderful facts and stories such as that of Kemble’s seat, named after renowned West End regency actor, John Philip Kemble, who travelled for days from London to learn his lines in the peace of Haddo park.

Kemble’s Seat, where Regency actor Philip Kemble liked to learn his lines Photograph credit: Me – (Susan does a far more professional job!)

Or of the fascinating artists’ bracket mushroom, which was used as a canvas for art and writing. Then there were the numerous folk tales, including mention of the Doolies, meadows where fairy folk are said to live.

WHAT DID WE DO?

Following weeks of research, we decided on the subjects we would like to explore, then Susan spent time in the park taking photographs, which, in turn, inspired my flash stories.

Research at the park was hungry work, which meant a stop for hot chocolate and fudge at Mrs Smith’s café!

My new works include two pieces written in Doric, two regency stories (another first), a fairy story, ghostly tales, romance, and more.

A monkey puzzle tree at Haddo, which appears in one of my Regency pieces.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Our plan is to source funding to enable us to publish our collection, hopefully encouraging others to come and enjoy all Haddo has to offer, and perhaps even be inspired in their own creative practice.

The beautiful brickwork of Haddo’s pheasantry, which inspired my story entitled, Brick by Brick …

MY THANKS

My thanks go to the Creative Aberdeenshire Network and their Place Partnership with Creative Scotland, for making this project possible.

And also to all my dear writing friends who helped with editing. I look forward to returning the favour soon.

Until next time,

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