In a special event organised by the Stratford Literary Festival, in partnership with River Hope, the celebrated writer, academic and performer Robert Macfarlane comes to Stratford-Upon-Avon on March 6th 2026.

Robert will explain the transformative idea that rivers are not mere matter for human use, but precious living things that should be recognised as such in both imagination and law. He’ll take us on a mind-expanding global journey into the history, futures, people and places of this ancient, urgent concept. He’ll also talk about how, around the world, rivers are dying from pollution, drought and damming, but that a powerful movement is also underway to recognise the lives and rights of rivers – and to re-animate our relationships with these vast, mysterious presences and landscapes we share. This movement is also beginning to ripple and flow locally for the water bodies and river catchments of South Warwickshire and Stratford-on-Avon District.

Robert Macfarlane is best known for his books on landscape, nature, place, people and language, which include The Old Ways (2012), Landmarks (2015), The Lost Words with Jackie Morris (2017), and Underland (2019).