The Essay

R.M. Francis on Wren’s Nest, Dudley


Listen Later

Writers choose a Black Country scene to reveal something of this strangely hidden region.

R.M. Francis is sharing the secret world of Wren’s Nest in Dudley. Once a site of intense mining, this was the UK’s first urban nature reserve. It’s world-famous geologically for its well-preserved Silurian coral reef fossils and is considered the most diverse and abundant fossil site in the British Isles. Surrounded by council houses, takeaways, pubs and supermarkets, Wren’s Nest is a very surprising place.

RM Francis is a writer from the Black Country. He’s a lecturer in Creative and Professional Writing at the University of Wolverhampton and is currently the poet in residence for the Black Country Geological Society. He's the author of five poetry Chapbook collections plus novels and novellas.

Producer: Rosie Boulton

A Must Try Softer Production
A co-funded project between the BBC, The Space and Arts Council England.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The EssayBy BBC Radio 3

  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2

4.2

82 ratings


More shows like The Essay

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,913 Listeners

Ask Penguin by Penguin Books UK

Ask Penguin

143 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,067 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,576 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,808 Listeners

Arts & Ideas by BBC Radio 4

Arts & Ideas

303 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,729 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,018 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,952 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

488 Listeners

Backlisted by Backlisted

Backlisted

585 Listeners

The Conversation by BBC World Service

The Conversation

70 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

410 Listeners

Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

Thinking Allowed

306 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

756 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

841 Listeners

Front Row by BBC Radio 4

Front Row

129 Listeners

All in the Mind by BBC Radio 4

All in the Mind

62 Listeners

Bookclub by BBC Radio 4

Bookclub

241 Listeners

Word of Mouth by BBC Radio 4

Word of Mouth

55 Listeners

Private Passions by BBC Radio 3

Private Passions

52 Listeners

The TLS Podcast by The TLS

The TLS Podcast

181 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II

4,186 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,245 Listeners