ENVIRONMENTAL writer Hadyn Washington will be a special guest at this year's Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival.

He is booked to attend the Mary White Address on June 6 at Dorrigo Rainforest Centre as this year's festival gets underway.

The centre's assistant manager Lea-Anne Parbery said acclaimed paleobotanist and author Dr Mary White delivered the first festival event in Dorrigo.

"We're thrilled she has agreed to lend her distinguished name to our annual slice of this popular local cultural experience," she said.

"This year our speaker is Hadyn Washington, author of several books and 'Falling In Love Outwards' is the title of his address."

Mr Washington's work has been praised by many prominent academics including Professor David Suzuki.

"In his address, Hadyn will investigate human dependence on nature and the need to rediscover our 'sense of wonder' at nature to help solve our environmental problems," Lea-Anne said.

"Hadyn contends that our distant ancestors understood this, that they knew that a key part of being fully human was being able to 'fall in love outwards'."

To book for the session, contact Dorrigo Rainforest Centre on 6657 5913.

The cost is $5 which includes morning tea on arrival.

More information and bookings at bellingenwritersfestival.com.au