What’s on at Jet Black Squares this autumn?

As we get further into the autumn, this can be a great time of year to get out and about and enjoy some outdoor activities in a cooler climate. It is also a beautiful time to get out into nature and capture the changing of the season. So, here are our autumn smartphone safari highlights that will make for a fun day out for the whole family.

Join Jeanne in some beautiful North Hertfordshire spots

Brocket Hall

Brocket Hall (grounds only) - 22nd September

Hitchin - More dates coming soon

Brocket Hall - 24th September 

Hertford - 30th September 

Join JULIE for her iconic cornish safaris

Boscastle

Bude - 21st September, 14th October, 28th October, 6th November, 7th December 

Boscastle - 20th September, 15th October, 27th October, 7th November, 8th December 

Join GAIL for an explore of OXFORDshire

Bodleian library in oxford

Bicester - 22nd September, 8th October, 25th November  

Woodstock - 6th October, 17th November

Oxford - 29th September, 14th October, 11th November

Banbury - 3rd November

Join MARY in and around WATFORD

Revelry Lodge

Chorleywood Estate - 19th September 

Revelry Lodge - 21st September 

Bushey Rose Garden (wheelchair accessible) - 25th September  

Join TIM for some FASCINATING LONDON safaris

Little Venice

Richmond-upon-Thames - 7th October, 27th October

Paddington Basin - 12th October

Covent Garden - 27th September, 6th October, 28th October

Windsor - 30th September, 21st October

Camden - 13th October

Join IMI for beautiful views in YORK

York Minster

York - 25th September, 9th October, 18th October 

Join Jack in exciting Manchester

Manchester Town Hall

Manchester - 30th September, 1st October, 14th October, 15th October, 28th October, 29th October

Join LISA in the stunning SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Invergordon Mural Trail

Inverness - 2nd October 

Invergordon Mural Trail (suitable for cruise passengers) - 25th September, 29th September, 8th October 

Chanonry Point - 23rd September 

Join JET and experience LONDON, ST ALBANS & REDBOURN

The Shard from London Bridge station

Southbank low light/nighttime - 13th October 

St James Park - 9th October 

Southbank (daytime) - 13th October 

Kings Cross - 15th October 

London Bridge - 21st October 

Soho and Chinatown - 28th September, 5th October 

Barbican - 26th September, 18th October 

Brick Lane - 15th October 

Carnaby Street and Soho Christmas Lights - 22nd November, 6th December, 4th December 

St Albans (Herts) - 8th October, 22nd October

Redbourn (Herts) FREE Snap & Chat - 23rd October, 20th November, 11th December (evening - Christmas lights) 

You can find out more about our Snap & Chat sessions here.

As well as our group safaris listed above, we also offer private 1:1/family smartphone safaris.

This time of year, many parents are also looking for a Duke of Edinburgh Award skill for their child, which we offer. Our Duke of Edinburgh sessions includes a complimentary adult place, and you don’t have to buy any expensive equipment either!

Please do get in touch with jet@jetblacksquares.com for more details.

Exploring your creativity abroad: Writers retreat with smartphone photography in Greece

A writer’s retreat is the perfect opportunity to hone your ideas and share your work with your peers. And having the chance to do this in Greece makes for an idyllic setting that will really get the creative juices flowing. This is the fantastic opportunity The Skyros Writers’ Lab have created in their now well-established retreat.

They have also found over the years they have been running that incorporating broader creative activates can hugely enhance your writing, and be great fun too! This is why we are delighted to announce that we will be running our smartphone photography workshops as part of the Skyros writers retreat this June.

Who is the retreat for?

The short answer is anyone with a passion and interest in writing of any kind. Over the years, the Skyros writers retreat has been attended by writers who are early on in their journey and looking to finish their first piece, to established writers with a book under their belt.

Former Writers’ Lab participants include Susan Elderkin, Crysse Morrison, Shani Solomons, Emma Darwin and Grace Wynne-Jones, who have gone on to publish books or to stage plays they started, developed, or completed in Skyros. 

The retreat offers the opportunity to learn from distinguished writers, share the joys and struggles of the creative process, discover your strengths and polish your skills. All while enjoying the laid-back Greek island life.

When and where will the writers retreat be held?

The writers retreat takes place at the beautiful Skyros Centre in Skyros Island, Greece from Sat 24 Jun - Sat 1 Jul 2023

What is a smartphone photography workshop?

As part of the retreat, you will have additional masterclasses and wellbeing sessions you can attend. This is a wonderful opportunity to get creative, find a new skill or hobby and dedicate time to yourself.

During our smartphone photography workshop, you will discover all the hidden tips and tricks of your smartphone camera and editing tools. We will go ‘out and about’ looking at landscape, macro, portrait photography and how to work with the amazing light available.

Being able to focus on setting and transition in a visual sense is an adaptive skill that can be very useful for writers. And what’s great about smartphone photography is you will always have a powerful camera to use right in your pocket.

How do I find out more?

Further detail of the Skyros Writers Retreat can be found here.

We hope to see you there!