Woman writing in nature © Matthew Roberts
Tales from the Riverbank Poetry Competition
Throughout 2024, we celebrated the ways in which rivers inspire the written word. Our book reviews showcased amazing authors, our literature festival explored creative writing, and our Tales from the Riverbank Poetry Competition asked young people to write a short poem inspired by the world of chalk steams. These globally rare habitats have enormous value for people and wildlife alike.
The competition was a collaboration between the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme and Hampshire Library Service, whose staff kindly acted as our judges. It was open to 7-18 year olds living in communities like Alresford, Andover, Overton, and Whitchurch. We were hugely impressed by all of the entries, and chose 16 as our prize winners:
- Amber McClelland Morris - 'Chirp, Quack, Plonk, Splash and Squelch'
- Amelia O'Hara - 'Sandwiches on the Bank'
- Angelina Ayres - 'By the Stream, I Dream'
- Eden Baker - 'Chalk Stream'
- Edward Nethercott - 'The River's Five Senses'
- Emily Leighton - 'Chalk Streams'
- Emmeline Fryer - 'Hubble Bubble'
- Freya Carmel Griffiths - 'Spectacular Streams'
- Georgia Marriner - 'Whisper of the Willow'
- Isla Press - 'The Critical Crayfish'
- Izzy Reeves - 'Riverbanks'
- Mabel Martin - 'The Chalk Stream'
- Penny Carter - 'I Wonder...'
- Ralph Nethercott - 'A Trout's Daydream'
- Rio Dominguez - 'If You Take the Time...'
- Safiya Husain - 'Sunrise Over the Itchen'
The poems have been turned into an anthology, 'Chalk Stream Poems by Young Writers', which can be viewed below. It includes beautiful illustrations by acclaimed artist Rachel Hudson, and a heartfelt foreword by celebrated author Amy-Jane Beer. Copies were presented to the winners at a ceremony in Winchester, along with certificates and National Book Tokens worth between £10 and £75.
Prize winner Penny Carter and her family at the Tales from the Riverbank Poetry Competition prizegiving ceremony © Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Amanda Kane-Smith at the Tales from the Riverbank Poetry Competition prizegiving ceremony © Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Rio Dominguez reads his poem at the Tales from the Riverbank Poetry Competition prizegiving ceremony © Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Fish decorated by attendees of the Tales from the Riverbank Poetry Competition prizegiving ceremony © Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust