ACCLAIMED authors who brought the forgotten natural world to the fore of young minds are collaborating with a hospice.

Sobell House Hospice in Oxford has highlighted how patients find 'solace in the natural world', and announced a series of events in partnership with Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris.

The pair respectively wrote and illustrated the award-winning children's book The Lost Words, which revived nature-related words that had been dropped from the Oxford Junior Dictionary.

In the form of acrostic 'spell' poems, the words include 'otter' and 'dandelion' and captivated readers' attention across the world.

Sobell House doctor Rachel Clarke, also a writer, said: "Nature is not a miracle cure for terminal illness and yet, at Sobell House, I’m struck by how often and how intensely some patients find solace in the natural world.

"The public can often fear that hospices are dark and dismal places where there is nothing left to experience but dying.

"But what we see in Sobell, over and over, is not the proximity to death, but the best bits of living.

"Love and life are everywhere, and nature helps provide them."

The Headington hospice has revealed that illustrations and spells from The Lost Words will be turned into large art centrepieces in its new garden annex, to help engage patients with the natural world.

The annex is currently being built at the hospice's Churchill Hospital site, as part of a major expansion to extend its care.

Sobell will also welcome Dr Macfarlane and Ms Morris to talk publicly about their book and their relationship with nature.

The event, which will be peppered with patient stories from Sobell, will take place at the Sheldonian Theatre on the evening of November 23.

It is supported by Blackwell's and after the talk, the book shop will hold a party and auction to further fundraise for Sobell.

Among items under the hammer will be an ink otter painting including the handwritten otter spell from The Lost Words.

Children's author and artist Ms Morris, whose books have sold more than one million copies, said: "The Lost Words was a real heartsong for myself and Robert.

"We have made so many new friends through the book since its publication [in 2017], and many people have taught us things and told us stories about the book.

"Foremost have been tales from people spending their last moments in pages of the book, finding comfort in the words and images, finding their voices, finding peace and a harbour for the soul.

"If we have made a place to rest for people of all ages at such a time, then that is good."

The artist and writer described Sobell as a 'place of life and love and caring'.

She added: "If we can be a small part of that, support them to help people to live well, then we will do all that we can to help."

Dr Macfarlane said: "To think of The Lost Words being used at Sobell House is deeply moving and humbling to me.

"It is simply a privilege to be involved in supporting the extraordinary work of hospices and their staff, and bringing nature into end-of-life care in this way."

Zool Verjee, deputy manager at Blackwell's, said the bookshop was 'immensely proud' to be involved in the 'special' event.

She added: "Many of us here in the bookshop, not to mention our customers, had already fallen in love with The Lost Words, and so celebrating Robert and Jackie's exceptional work in this new context and for such a worthwhile cause means a great deal to us."

Tickets for the talk cost £8 - to buy one or see more details, click here.