The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Hampshire's Countryside Poetry Competition is now open to children who live or go to school in Hampshire and challenges them to write creatively about the countryside It is free to enter and poems should not exceed 300 words.
Sir Andrew is president of the national Campaign to Protect Rural England and is passionate about the countryside and encouraging young people to engage with their surroundings. The children from the Westgate School & Twyford School were treated to a poetry session, where Sir Andrew read poems and gave a brief introduction about his career and how he became interested in poetry. The children were encouraged to ask questions and Sir Andrew gave them advice on how to enter the competition
Whatever the meaning of a poem, Andrew Motion said, its success has as much to do with the sound that it makes as it does with the words written down on the page. His own voice was mesmerising and he inspired the children and adult attendees alike as he read two poems aloud. He said: "The palace of poetry has thousands of different rooms in it and, as poets, you have at your beck and call a number of tricks which are unique to you when you are writing. Remember, too, that the best poems tend to be written by people who are using their five senses. If you get that right, you will be making something that gets people to say: 'Yes, that's right – that's what it feels like.'"
Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine attended with his own young son, William, and daughter, Emily, and explained that poetry has been something he's enjoyed since school days.
He said: "The combination of poetry and the countryside is a timeless combination and I can't wait to see what our young people come up with."
Steve then recited a funny poem – A Hand in the Bird by Roald Dahl - with which he had won a school speaking contest at the age of 11.
Joan McGavin, the Hampshire Poet said: "What a great idea this competition is! There is something for poets of all ages this year, and we also have a new Winchester Poetry Festival in September."
Gemma Lacey, head of sustainability for The Southern Cooperative, said: "The Southern Co-operative is committed to protecting and celebrating our local wildlife and countryside. The CPRE Hampshire poetry competition is a great way to encourage children's creativity and with the focus on the countryside to get them thinking about what makes our local wildlife and countryside so special."
The first prize winners will have their poem published in Hampshire Life magazine and on the CPRE Hampshire website. Winners will each receive a framed certificate signed by Sir Andrew Motion, as well as a book token. They will also be invited to attend a ceremony in September for the charity's separate CPRE Hampshire Countryside Awards presentations.
Entries will be judged by Gemma Lacey of The Southern Cooperative (TSC), Hampshire poet, Joan McGavin and Hampshire Life Editor, Elizabeth Barnett. The winning poems will be sent to Sir Andrew for him to read.
More information ...
For full category and entry details, please visit www.cprehampshire.org.uk or Like CPRE Hampshire on Facebook. Closing date for entries is midnight on 30th June 2014.
Submissions must be sent to [email protected] or via post CPRE Hampshire, 89a, St Cross Road, Winchester, SO23 9RJ, as a WORD document. They should include a signed and completed application form, which includes the name of the attending school, the school year of the entrant and their contact details.