Hi everyone,
What a joy the first Digital Detox Day at Holden Clough Nurseries turned out to be! On that sunny July Saturday we met so many people with a genuine interest in our books, our stories and writing in general.
We sold books, recruited two new authors for Promoting Yorkshire Authors (PYA), and inspired at least a couple more to go home and start (or finish) writing their own stories. It felt special – phones put away, conversations flowing, the beautiful Lancashire gardens and paths of Holden Clough providing the perfect backdrop for real connection.
Following that success, the event has a new name and a regular home in the calendar: Slow Down Sunday.
From now on, every first Sunday of the month, Holden Clough Nurseries (Holden, near Bolton-by-Bowland, Lancashire, BB7 4PF) will host Slow Down Sunday. Bring the family, leave the phones behind (or firmly switched off), and give yourself the gift of a proper digital detox in one of Lancashire’s loveliest spots. Wander the peaceful paths among the plants and flowers that have been grown here since 1927, enjoy the outdoor setting, chat, browse, and simply slow down.
This Sunday – 2nd August 2026 – will be the first Slow Down Sunday.
I’ll be there in person with a selection of my books: the travel and walking adventures Show Me The Way to Santiago and A Very Alternative Coast to Coast, the children’s book The Owl and the Mole, the poetry pamphlet Imprints, and more. PYA authors will have a stall at every Slow Down Sunday going forward, so you’ll always find books to browse, buy and get signed, plus friendly faces ready to talk writing, walking, poetry or just life in general.
What to expect:
- A relaxed, screen-free atmosphere
- PYA authors’ stall with books for sale
- The chance to explore the nurseries, the Reading Room Kitchen café, and the wonderful outdoor spaces
- Family-friendly time outdoors – no notifications, just real conversations and fresh air
In a world that rarely stops, Slow Down Sunday is our gentle invitation to log off, tune back into the real world, and reconnect with nature, stories and each other. The nursery’s own commitment to a more analogue way of life makes it the perfect home for this monthly gathering.
I really hope to see you this Sunday, 2nd August, and on the first Sundays that follow. Come and say hello – I’ll have the books ready and the kettle on (metaphorically speaking!).
See you there for a slower, richer day.
Peter Kay
Author | Poet | Walker
https://peterkaywordspace.co.uk/
