The finalists have been announced in a nationwide competition celebrating stories about Scotland’s wildlife and wild places.
The Words of the Wild competition was launched by the Scottish Wildlife Trust in June, encouraging new works of nature writing focusing on Scotland’s wildlife and wild places as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations. After receiving over 500 entries, including prose, poems, letters and songs in English, Scots and Gaelic, the Trust’s judging panel have selected six finalists, three from both the adult and junior categories.
In the adult category, the shortlisted entries are “Òran an Fhèidh” by Marcas Mac an Tuairneir, “A Walk in the Wild” by Anne V McClure, and “In the Stillness” by Hannah Murphy.
The finalists in the junior category are: “Wild with Grief” by Eileen Page, aged 15, “Into the Wild…” by Olivia Phillips, aged 10, and “Motherhood” by 16-year-old Alexandra Yates.
The winners will be announced at a Scottish Wildlife Trust event at the Scottish Parliament on 13 November, with the winners receiving a selection of prizes generously donated by Viking Optical, NHBS and The Mainstreet Trading Company.
The winning entries will also be added into the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s 60th anniversary time capsule which will be sealed at the event, to be opened in 2064 when the Trust will turn 100 years old.
Stephen Jardine, Scottish Wildlife Trust Ambassador and one of the competition judges, said, “I’ve been amazed at the high standard of entries received into the competition. Reading through the submissions has been like taking a journey through Scotland’s wild places, from vast, rugged mountains in the Highlands, to small pockets of nature hidden in our most urban landscapes.
“It’s fantastic to see so many writers taking inspiration from nature and to read how much Scotland’s wildlife and wild places mean to people. On behalf of all the judges, I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who submitted an entry, and best of luck to our amazing finalists.”
The written entries from the finalists are now available to read on the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website.
An exhibition of all 24 shortlisted entries will also be available to view on selected dates at the Trust’s visitor centres at Loch of the Lowes and Montrose Basin. Dates to be announced in November on the Scottish Wildlife Trust website.
Read the Words of the Wild writing
Image credit: Caledonian forest, Mark Hamblin-2020VISION