Poetry competition

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is celebrating 80 years of protecting and restoring wildlife and wild places across Yorkshire, and we’d love you to help us mark our special anniversary with poetry.

From our windswept moors and ancient woodlands to our secretive otters and soaring skylarks, Yorkshire is full of inspiration. Whether you’re an experienced poet or simply someone who loves nature, we’re inviting you to put pen to paper and help us inspire more people to keep Yorkshire wild.

Theme

Your poem should capture the natural beauty of Yorkshire’s landscapes, wildlife, and wild places, or reflect on eight decades of conservation efforts (by experts and ordinary folk alike) right across the county.

It should be no longer than 500 words.

Special Guest Judge

We’re delighted to announce that our competition will be judged by one of the UK’s most beloved literary voices, Ian McMillan.

Affectionately known as the “Bard of Barnsley”, Ian is a much-loved poet, playwright, journalist and broadcaster and a true champion of words. As the long-time host of BBC Radio 4’s The Verb, he’s brought poetry to life for audiences across the UK with his trademark blend of high culture and Yorkshire wit.

With a hugely varied body of work for adults and children alike, Ian blends literary brilliance with down-to-earth charm, making him the perfect judge for this competition.

Who can enter

This competition is open to Yorkshire residents of all ages. We’ll be judging entries within the following four categories:

Under 8
8–12 years
13–17 years
18+

How to enter

Submit your original poem below by Friday 3^rd July 2026 or alternatively you can post it to us at Poetry Competition, 1 St. Georges Place, York, YO24 1GN.

Prizes

We'll be announcing the winners of this competition on Yorkshire Day – that’s the 1^st of August 2026!

All winning poems will be featured in our magazine, on our website and our social media channels. Plus, winning poets will each receive a special wild hamper!

Enter your poem

Your details

First name

Last name

Email address (of parent/guardian if under 13)

Your phone number (of parent/guardian if under 13)

Submit your poem

Please write your poem in the box below or upload a pdf

Upload a pdf of your poem

One file only.
100 MB limit.
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Terms and Conditions

Terms & Conditions

The promoter of this competition is Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity No. 210807), whose registered office is at 1 St George’s Place, York, YO24 1GN.

By submitting an entry, entrants agree to be bound by the following Terms & Conditions:

Eligibility

This competition is open to Yorkshire residents only. Entrants under the age of 13 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian. Employees of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, its trustees and any volunteers directly involved in administering the Competition are not eligible to enter. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves the right to verify eligibility.

Entry Requirements

Poems must:

Be original work written by the entrant, without the help of AI.
Not have been previously published in print or online (including personal blogs or social media).
Not have been submitted to another competition where results are pending.
Not infringe any copyright or third-party rights.

Be no longer than 500 words in length
Be submitted in English

Only one entry per person will be accepted. Entries must be submitted after midnight on Friday the 3^rd July 2026 will not be accepted. Illegible entries will not be considered.

Judging and Selection

Entries will be judged by a panel appointed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Judges will assess entries based on creativity, originality, relevance to the theme, and literary quality. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Prizes

Winners will be notified by email or telephone within 10 working days of the closing date. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if necessary. No cash alternative will be offered unless explicitly stated.

If a winner does not respond within 5 working days of notification, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves the right to offer the prize to a runner-up.

Copyright, Usage Rights and Publicity

Copyright of each poem remains with the author. By entering, entrants grant Yorkshire Wildlife Trust a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to:

Publish the poem (in full or in part) on its website, social media channels, newsletters, or printed materials.
Use the poem for promotional, educational, and fundraising purposes.
Exhibit the poem at events or in publications related to our 80th anniversary.

The Trust agrees to credit the author wherever reasonably possible. No additional payment will be made for such use. Winners may be asked to participate in publicity relating to the Competition. By entering, entrants agree that their name, age and general location may be published if shortlisted or selected as a winner.

Data Protection

Personal data supplied during the course of this Competition will only be processed in accordance with the Trust’s Privacy Policy. Personal data will be used solely for administering the Competition unless entrants opt in to receive further communications.

Liability

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust accepts no responsibility for technical issues that prevent entry submission, lost, delayed, or corrupted entries or any injury or loss resulting from participation in the Competition or acceptance of a prize.

Cancellation or Amendment

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves the right to cancel, amend, or suspend the competition where necessary due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.