POET Simon Armitage is renowned for his verse which captures the environment.

And his latest piece of work is inscribed within the very environment it was inspired by.

He’s teamed up with the Ilkley Literature Festival to inscribe six poems at rural spots – the first at Pule Hill, Marsden.

Simon’s poem Snow, specially commissioned for the project, has been engraved into a stone at the National Trust beauty spot.

And Simon explained its inspiration. “I grew up under Pule Hill and used to go up there as a kid so I’m very familiar with Pule Hill,’’ he said.

“Snow was written from a memory I have of walking up there as a kid around Easter time and there was still snow which hadn’t thawed.

“One of the reasons we chose Pule Hill is because it doesn’t have a Hollywood view. It’s a well-established beauty spot which attracts people for moments of contemplation.”

Each of his six poems are inspired by water, the second on the trial is at Nab Hill at Oxenhope and is entitled Rain. Others to follow include Puddle, View and Beck before the Poetry Trail reaches Ilkley.

Simon has come in for a little criticism by druids at Ilkley.

He said: “I thought the issue might be environmental. As far as I can tell some of it has come from druids. I don’t know what modern day druids want and don’t want for the environment.

“I would never get involved in a project which is deductive or destructive to the environment . What I am doing is incredibly discreet and low impact.

“We need to keep the moors sacred. A lot of the places were excavated quarries which were left – they are wounds in a way.

“I completely accept that people have opinions. If anything it highlights their interest in the moors and shows that people feel a part of them.

“I like organisations like the National Trust, English Heritage and Natural England because I very much share their objectives and ideals of wanting to protect.”

Stone artist Pip Hall has already began work on the Poetry Trail, carving Simon’s Snow at Pule Hill.

Judith Patrick, property manager at the National Trust at Marsden, said they had liaised with the Trust’s own archeologist before going ahead.

Judith explained: “With Simon being Marsden born and bred it was a project which interested us but there was a long process as we explored how to do it.

“We looked at various sites and identified Pule Hill quarry .

“It is quite unique. Its history is that when the workers stopped they downed tools and left everything as it was, so there are stones up there left as they were. It’s got quite an interesting industrial heritage story to it.

“Simon was very respectful of the environment. In his view he didn’t want it to be carved just anywhere. It has to be a journey of discovery and respectful of the environment, which it is.

“I know a couple of people have concerns, but I can reassure people we would not allow that. It’s a very beautiful inscription of poetry by a son of Marsden.

“I think it’s great. It’s a lovely beautiful inscription of Simon’s very evocative poetry. It fits in with the landscape.

“We were especially pleased that it’s the first on the trail and was the first to be carved.”