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WORDSWORTH COMES TO THE CAPITAL, THANKS TO STAGECOACH FLASHMOB
Commuters at London’s Euston station were treated to a performance of the poet Wordsworth’s world-famous ‘Daffodils’ yesterday as part of a campaign to get ‘Wordsworth Country’ back in the nation’s imagination.
More than a hundred children and their parents from Stagecoach Talent Agency UK, part of Stagecoach Performing Arts Schools, hailing from all over the country, teamed up with comedian and Grumpy Old Man star Arthur Smith to recite the words of Wordsworth’s legendary poem, which is one of the most oft-quoted verses in the world and is synonymous with the Lake District.
As part of the campaign, organised by The Wordsworth Trust and in partnership with Virgin Trains, Euston Station – the gateway to the Lake District from the capital – was transformed into an homage to the Victorian poet, with a giant 3m daffodil garden for travellers to enjoy and a signpost highlighting the way to ‘Wordsworth Country’. Commuters were invited to take a ‘seat and a selfie’ amongst the blooms synonymous with the Romantic poet. The Wordsworth Trust has also developed an app that provides users with an interactive guide to Wordsworth’s Lake District as revealed in the writings of the famous poet himself.
The aim of the Wordsworth Trust’s campaign is to emphasise the area’s strong cultural heritage and engage with people who have never before visited the Lake District, as well as return visitors, encouraging them to visit this summer. The drive to encourage tourism to Wordsworth Country will provide much needed support for the regional economy in the wake of Storm Desmond and the floods that ravaged the region at the end of 2015. The launch of the campaign coincides with the 125th anniversary of Wordsworth’s home, Dove Cottage being opened to the public and the run-up to Wordsworth’s 250th birthday in 2020.
The Lake District National Park Authority has also launched a bid for the area to be granted World Heritage Status in 2017, meaning it would be ranked among other sites of natural and man-made beauty around the world, such as the Taj Mahal, Hadrian's Wall and the Great Barrier Reef. Almost 4,500 people have already backed the bid to support the area, which Wordsworth famously described as "a sort of national property in which every man has a right and interest who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy."
Paul Kleian from The Wordsworth Trust says, “Celebrating the words of the poet and the places he immortalised is particularly pertinent as we approach his 250th birthday.“
’‘Daffodils’ is the poem that the nation undoubtedly associates with Wordsworth, so we thought what better way to launch the campaign than with an unexpected performance in the station that acts as the gateway to the Lake District for visitors from the south of the country?
“By promoting ‘Wordsworth Country’ in the same manner as ‘Shakespeare Country’, ‘Hardy Country’ and ‘Bronte Country’, we hope that people will think of the region as a cultural place as well as one for outdoor activities and that future generations visiting the Lake District will understand Wordsworth’s enormous influence on the region.”
“When people think of the Lake District they, no doubt, picture green hillsides, beautiful tranquil lakes, quaint villages, daffodils and wandering clouds – we want to make sure they also remember the poet that made the Lake District famous all around the world.”
Tarquin Shaw-Young, from Stagecoach Talent Agency UK part of Stagecoach Performing Arts Schools, said: "We were so impressed with our students today who were so enthusiastic to perform on a different type of stage such as Euston station. The students showed off their skills whilst having a high level of professionalism. Stagecoach are so pleased to be here supporting the 'Love Wordsworth Country' campaign as we have a lot of students from all over the country, so it is a fantastic to celebrate the beautiful areas in the UK and to promote such a wonderful place. It's a wonderful cause close to a lot hearts from students and parents alike".
Comedian Arthur Smith added, “I went on school trips to the Lake District when I was a boy and learned to love the dramatic landscapes we walked over: subsequently I came to enjoy the lyrical landscapes of the Romantic poets, especially Wordsworth and Coleridge. I have been back walking there many times since and hope to again soon.”
The Wordsworth Trust is inviting people to ‘Love Wordsworth Country’ and share their memories and passion for the Lake District via its dedicated webpage: www.lovewordsworthcountry.com.
The Wordsworth Country app is also accessible via the website.
The ‘Love Wordsworth Country’ initiative is being supported by a host of Lake District businesses and organisations including Cumbria Tourism, Lake District National Park and Lakes Culture.