Natasha Carthew & Hazel Sheffield: Landscapes of Belonging

Why do some places get under our skin? And what changes first – you, or the place you call home?

Journalist Hazel Sheffield and writer Natasha Carthew come together for a powerful conversation about place, belonging and the deep connections between people and landscape.

Through Frontierlands and Rough Edges, they explore the forces shaping communities across Britain today, from economic change and shifting identities to the enduring pull of home. Blending reportage, memoir and a deep sense of place, both writers reveal how landscapes can shape our lives, our opportunities and our understanding of ourselves.

For Folkestone, a town shaped by the sea, movement and reinvention, this promises to be a searching discussion around community, identity and the places we carry with us wherever we go.

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Events last one hour unless otherwise stated, followed by a book signing in The Clearing. Our official bookseller is Waterstones.

Folkestone Book Festival is our annual celebration of stories, ideas and conversation by the sea. Curated by novelist Sophie Haydock (The Flames, Madame Matisse), this year’s festival brings together more than 60 events across two weeks, welcoming world-class writers, thinkers and storytellers to Folkestone.

Discover another event, browse the bookshop, explore Folkestone’s vibrant arts scene, independent cafés, bars and galleries, and share the experience with a friend. The best festivals are as much about the conversations between events as those on stage.

The Festival is part of Folkestone is a Library, our ambitious town-wide celebration of reading, writing and storytelling, helping make Folkestone one of the UK’s most exciting literary destinations.

We believe great conversations should be for everyone, which is why every event includes a £5 Cost of Living Ticket, available with no questions asked.

Please help us spread the word. Together, we’re building a thriving community of readers, writers and curious minds.

Folkestone Book Festival is proudly supported by Eurotunnel, Canterbury Christ Church University, Holiday Extras, and the Friends of Folkestone Book Festival. Creative Folkestone is supported by Arts Council England, Folkestone & Hythe District Council and Saga. Founding Funder The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.