Ghosts of the Landscape Nature Writing Competition
A summer creative writing competition for adults and children | Closing Date Midnight September 8th, 2021
Ghosts of the Landscape is a project which aims to raise awareness of the plight of Derbyshire’s moorlands. Instead of being an important haven for wildlife, carbon sequestration and flood prevention, as they once were, they have been drained, polluted, overgrazed and lost many of the wild species that should live there.
You can find out more here: A new approach for our uplands is needed | Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
Birds of prey persecution and wildlife crime are all too common and many lost and struggling species are now ghosts of this landscape: sights we should see in our uplands but do not, are the sounds we should hear, but do not, and species which should be thriving here, but are not.
To find out more, and to fire up your imagination, there are free nature-themed creative-writing workshops on our YouTube channel.
What would your vision for our uplands be? What animals and plants would you like to see thriving there? How would you depict a perfect upland scene? We want to gather ideas and visions from as many people as possible to help us to create a creative manifesto for the future.
We’d love to see entries of poetry (up to 40 lines) or short stories, or creative nonfiction (of up to 1000 words) inspired by the Ghosts of the Landscape project.
It’s completely free to enter and prizes will be awarded in three age categories: Under 13 years, 14-17 years and Over 18s*.
For more information about Hen Harrier Day 2021 or the Ghosts of the Landscape project, click here.
The Prizes
The top entries in each age category will be published in a digital anthology which will be available on the Writing East Midlands and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust web sites.
There will be a free creative writing course or a free guided nature walk for up to four with Guided Walks Peak District – Peak Walking Adventures for the winner of the Over 18s category and Goody Bags and vouchers will be awarded to the winners of the Under 13 years, 14-17 years categories.
Adult winners will also receive a Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Owl Adoption Pack.
Click here to submit your work
Closes for entries midnight on 8th September 2021
Winners will be informed during the week commencing 20th September and published on 27th September 2021
*All entries from under 18s must be accompanied by parental or teacher consent.
Entries submitted without appropriate consent will be disqualified. If you’d like further information please don’t hesitate to contact us at: education@writingeastmidlands.co.uk
For full terms and conditions, click here.