Head Judge Suzie Wilde tells us more...
I think we all need a bit of hope at the moment. As a fiction author, and teacher of creative writing to all ages, I’ve observed the careful awe most children have for the natural world. It can be a struggle for adults to regain their honesty and directness and I thought it would be fun for our youngsters to have a go at non fiction writing, too, and to be inspirational. Our winners certainly are!
I was thrilled to get the backing for this competition from Petersfield Climate Action Network, who encouraged the idea, to add to the work in schools undertaken by PeCAN trustee Rachel Ritchie and team. If you would like to join in, or request a free eco conference for your school, check out the education section of the website.
The competition closed at the end of June and winners were announced at Petersfield Eco Fair on Sunday 14th July. You can find the two winning entries below, and you can hear these plus the two runners up entries being read on Shine Radio by youth actors Pippa and Sophie Maddison.
I hope these young people inspire us to look at what’s around us with fresh eyes, so that appreciation of our South Downs home makes us truly nurture it.
Non-Fiction Winner: Wild About Here by Alfie Hewetson
A kaleidoscope of light burns from the sky, creating light patches over the long grass. I walk slowly through the paths neatly cut into the meadow.
A bee orchid catches my eye. I stare at it in wonder. Its pink petals opening up to welcome the buzzing ‘bee’ while the green stem shoots down, connecting it to its brothers and sisters.
The oxeye daisies create a white blanket across the land.
A huddle of trees down at the bottom of the garden looks like a group of skyscrapers touching the clouds. Hopeful newly-planted trees stand proudly waving their leaves for sunlight.
I sit down on a bench.
A hare dashes across the meadow. Its high ears pointed like sharp spikes; its fur dark brown, like chocolate. The speed was immense and my heart skipped a beat.
Cornflowers like blue hedgehogs stood proudly on their green perch and poppies were dotted around them with their red tissue paper flowers. My thoughts turn to how lovely the world is, so peaceful and calm but I still know that there is something out there that I want to see and experience through my life.
Judge Roger Morgan-Grenville said: "They seem to have a real understanding of what awe in nature is about, and also what plants look like ... 'cornflowers like blue hedgehogs' is unusual - fair play to them!"
Alfie is 8 years old. His entry is read for Shine Radio by Pippa Maddison.
Non-Fiction Runner-Up: Ten Minutes in Nature by Phoebe Destecroix age 14, read for Shine Radio by Sophie Maddison. Listen here!
Fiction Winner: Mae's Tree by Alannah Calverd
My tear-stained face burrows into the soft comfort of my mother’s black silky dress, and I try not to listen to the nagging thoughts inside my head: “why did you not come with her, April? Why weren’t you there? It's your fault she went on her own.”
My mother stands up, and I follow.
“Would all close family of the deceased please take a flower.”
I don’t like the word ‘deceased’. It makes me think of rotting flesh and carcasses. I don’t want my sister Mae to be remembered like that. I follow, dazed, as everyone walks outside and gathers around the polished wood coffin, etched with intricate designs of flowers. Mae would have loved it.
We assemble around the grave, and I watch each of my uncles and aunts drop a rose into the hole. I notice Mae’s best friends, Michelle and Philly, looking lost and confused, as if they can’t understand what happened. The last rose falls from my hand like the last fragment of Mae’s life, and I watch as the gravediggers shovel dirt over the top until it is like there was never anything of importance there at all, least of all a human life.
As I watch them dump the last heap of earth back into the pit, I make a silent vow to myself that I will find a way to remember her.
When we get home, my mother starts absent-mindedly making tea, with tears streaming down her face. She looks how I feel, but I won't let that stop me. I remember Mae’s love of plants, and the perfect plan springs into my head. I call to my mother as I rush out of the door that I am going to the garden centre, but she is so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she doesn’t hear me.
I grab my purse, the one with the little fox pattern that Mae gave me, and run down the street. When I arrive, I can’t decide which sapling to choose. I decide on a pear tree, Mae’s favourite fruit. I stumble back to our front garden and grab a shovel. One hour later I stand back, wipe my sweaty forehead with the palm of my mud-coated hand, and admire my work.
As long as this tree is here, my sister’s memory will never be forgotten.
Judge Barbara Henderson said: "It is skilful, subtle, and heartfelt, dealing with bereavement and the healing power of nature really skilfully. Bravo!"
Alannah is 11 years old, and her entry is read for Shine Radio by Sophie Maddison.
Fiction Runner-Up: The Nature Club - Case of the Rare Golden Owl by Eva Azpiazu-McEvoy age 7, read for Shine Radio by Pippa Maddison. Listen here!
Non Fiction Judge: Roger Morgan-Grenville
Judging non fiction was Roger Morgan-Grenville, who was April guest author in Shine Radio’s Talking Books podcast, with Tim O’Kelly of One Tree Books. Roger is a writer and campaigner on nature and regeneration. He helps run the charity Curlew Action, and in 2022 he walked 1,000 miles across Britain to meet the people restoring our nature. His latest book, The Return of the Grey Partridge: Restoring Nature on the South Downs was published in April. PeCAN provided the prizes for this category.
Fiction Judge: Barbara Henderson
Our fiction judge is also an author who writes with clarity and purpose. Barbara Henderson is the award-winning author of eleven books. She lives and works in Scotland and writes for young people, helping them to combine good storytelling with the natural world. Her historical and eco-fiction is widely studied in schools and has won several prizes, including two Young Quills Awards from the Historical Association. She was the June guest on Talking Books. One Tree Books awarded book tokens to the winner and runner-up.
Head Judge: Suzie Wilde
Author of Viking Trilogy and Guardian Book of the Month The Book of Bera, Suzie has an MA with Distinction in Creative Writing and now edits and teaches writing for all ages and genres. She presents Talking Books with Tim O’Kelly of One Tree Books for Shine Radio Petersfield and is a trustee of PeCAN with special interest in regenerative farming, soil and earthworms! She is usually walking the South Downs with two Labradors.