THE word is spreading fast about the latest free family workshop to be held at the Museum of Dartmoor Life. The latest workshop, Words About Dartmoor, will take place at the museum in Okehampton on Saturday, June 21. The day promises to be fun for lovers of all things to do with words — from tall tales, profound poems and the ancient art of calligraphy. Museum curator, Maurie Webber, said: 'In the morning renowned storyteller, Michael Dacre, will be regaling visitors with tales about the moors and its people, stories to fire the imagination! 'Meanwhile poet Don Newton will be on hand in the afternoon to help weave words together to your own poem, again with Dartmoor and its magical landscape as the theme. 'Throughout the day, Susan Eckles will be leading sessions in calligraphy or the art of beautiful handwriting and there will be the chance to try your hand at decorative lettering and take home an example of this ancient art. 'With current emphasis on improving literacy in schools and encouraging children to enjoy reading and writing, Words About Dartmoor is an ideal way to help discover words, with the emphasis on having fun.' So far the museum's series of free family workshops have proved immensely popular. Since the sessions started, children, and even some adults, have built huge dragonflies, made volcanoes erupt and excavated an archaeological trench. There will be a series of sessions running throughout the day for Words About Dartmoor with storytelling running from 10am to 11am and 11.30am to 12.30pm, poetry running from 2pm to 3pm and 3pm to 4pm and calligraphy sessions running at 10am to 11am, 11.30am to 12.30pm, 2pm to 3pm and 3pm to 4pm. Advance booking is recommended. For further details or to make a booking contact the museum on 01837 52295.
