Wildlife writing contest for youngsters open for entries

New for Hen Harrier Day 2020 – which has gone online in response to the coronavirus outbreak – is the Young Wild Writer competition. 

The organisers are calling for all aspiring wildlife writers aged 16 or under to submit a piece of original writing on British wildlife. It can take any form the author wishes –  for example, a story, poem, song, article or diary entry – so long as it doesn’t exceed 500 words. The judges stated that they are looking for "originality, creativity, understanding of your subject and the ability to engage the reader".

There are three age groups: Young (5-8 years), Junior (9-12 years) and Senior (13-16 years). All works must be submitted by midnight on 24 July 2020, via the Hen Harrier Day website. 

The subject can be any aspect of British wildlife, from the butterflies and bees you see in your garden to Golden Eagles soaring through Scottish skies. Flowers and trees or even the rare and iconic Hen Harrier itself could be the theme – whatever the author loves and is inspired by. 

Each age category will have one winner, from whom the judges will choose a single overall winner. Each of the three winners will have their entry read out by much loved children's novelist Michael Morpurgo as part of Hen Harrier Day Online, and will receive a book bundle from some of today’s best-known children's authors including Karin Celestine, Nicola Davies, Anneliese Emmans Dean, Julia Green, Gill Lewis, Mimi Thebo, Piers Torday and Yuval Zommer. The overall winner will also receive a school visit by award-winning children's author Gill Lewis.

For full details and rules, plus access to the easy-to-use submission form, visit the Hen Harrier Day website.