Pupils Win Countryside Regeneration Trust Competition

This term, pupils entered a creative writing competition run by The Countryside Regeneration Trust with some impressive results.

This was a nature writing competition, a flash fiction event on the theme of Invasive Species. Flash fiction is defined as ‘a type of prose narrative characterized by its brevity’ – in this case, 50 words - and which focuses on ‘conciseness and impact’.

Feedback from the judges, best-selling children’s author Sarah Lean and farm estate manager, Hannah Bosence, highlighted the excellent quality of the writing and the successful way all entries captured the disruption caused by invasive species.

We were delighted that Sybella won the senior category and Bea M won the junior category.

In addition, Violetta was presented with a special award, particularly impressive for an EAL pupil.

"The winning pieces were all chosen for very different reasons, but especially the skill in encompassing super first line hooks, stunning word choices and phrases, and the way each line played into the piece as a whole.”

Bea M, age 10, Hanford School, Junior Category
Invasive Species: Mink As the silent shape of the moon rises above the horizon, a stealthy hunter Slips into the shadows, twisting its slender body round each whispering tree. Dancing in the starlight, stalking its prey hidden by the cloak of darkness, Each fang glistens in the moonlight Sinking into its warm prey's flesh.
Sybella, age 12, Hanford School, Senior Category
Invasive Species: Japanese Knotweed Admittedly, the pink buds fooled me, But, I was too late... Jabbing, raking, poisoning, Nothing could stop the assassination of my garden A network of roots had seized the soil. The stalks turned fat and ugly, Then, sickly maroon spots started to appear. My garden had been sentenced to death.
Violetta, age 13, Hanford School, Senior Category, Special Commendation
Invasive Species: Floating pennywort Floats like a feather on the surface of the water, Invades the rivers and destroys oxygen, Spreading on top of the aquatic creatures. The plants dominate the waters by covering it completely - Not a single ray of sunshine gets past them Since they are selfishly keeping it for themselves.