Please note: We only publish poets from the West Midlands region or those who have strong connections to it.

Seeing the Trees, and the Woods Publication November 2025

To be edited by Simon Fletcher & Kuli Kohli

Offa’s Press intends to publish an anthology of poetry about trees in November 2025. To this end poets living in or with strong current links to the West Midlands are invited to send their work in from 1st-31st July. Please do not send before or after.

We’d be interested to see well-crafted contemporary poetry on a variety of subjects and from different perspectives. For example, you might write a praise poem about trees or a particular tree, the mythology and legends about a species of tree, a poem about one or more of the threats trees face, what we can do to re-forest, traditional/contemporary uses of trees, or a comical take on a tree. Current environmental awareness is important.

Submission details

Submissions are free and should be sent by email as an attachment to: info@offaspress.co.uk. Please use .doc or .docx format and make sure your name and contact details are included in your email and on the texts.

If you prefer to post work (include a SAE if you want your work returned) send it to Offa’s Press, 2, Ferndale, Pant, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 9QD. Please include your name, address and/or other contact details. Do not include biographical notes at this stage.

A maximum of 3 pages, or 100 lines, of poetry may be sent. Suitable poetry that’s previously been published will be considered so please give details with the submission.

If you haven’t heard from us by the end of August you can assume your submission has not been successful. Don’t be down-hearted if your work isn’t selected as there’s likely to be very strong competition. No correspondence will be entered into, however, and the editors’ words are final.

If your work is accepted you will be given a free copy of the anthology and may be invited to take part in a celebratory reading in your area.

The Editors

Simon Fletcher’s the author of 4 poetry collections and 2 pamphlets, his latest Wild Orchids.Widely published in magazines and anthologies, he’s performed his poetry across Britain and in Pakistan (ACE-funded), Germany and Norway. He’s read his poetry on BBC Radio Shropshire and is the manager of Offa’s Press. He’s also a member of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. Nominated for the Forward Prize (best single poem) in 2024.

Kuli Kohli is poet laureate of Wolverhampton, 2022-25, and Creative Associate for the Rebecca Swift Foundation. She’s a retired council worker, mother and writer. Her appearances on BBC’s ‘Sunday Live’ and ‘Poetry, Please!’ drew national attention. Her Patchwork and A Wonder Woman are published by Offa’s Press. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Wolverhampton in 2022 and a photo of her by Anand Chhabra was acquired by the National Portrait Gallery last year.