In late 2020, The Lost Words for Oxfordshire and Oxford Poetry Library presented a competition inspired by the spellbinding book, The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris. Entrants were invited to submit their own Lost Words spell, created using one of OPL’s three Activity Packs, to be in for the chance to win their own copy of The Lost Words, its sequel The Lost Spells, or their own led Lost Words workshop.

And the winners are…

Robert Macfarlane himself judged the competition and chose the following winners:

In the 7-10 year old category:

First prize: Hugo Chandler for ‘Red Kite

Hugo(1)

Second prize: Fahad Ali for ‘Woodpecker

Fahad Ali-page-001

Highly Commended:

Maya Allen for ‘Rusty Tussock Moth

Maya Allen entry

Sid Davies for ‘Maple Leaves

Jack Douglas for ‘Swift

Jack Douglas

Anna Ruiz for ‘Hazel Tree

Anna Ruiz 2

James Snell for ‘Heather

James Snell

In the 11-14 year old category:

First prize: Freya Leech for ‘Grasshopper

Screenshot 2021-01-22 at 15.50.35

Second prize: Ailla Ford for ‘Green Woodpecker

Highly Commended:

Nathaniel Thomas for ‘Blue Jay

Nathaniel Thomas poem

Yumi for ‘Wasp

Yumi-page-002

Special mention also to Wood Farm School for most engaged school! Click on the image below to see these poets reading their brilliant entries to the competition

Screenshot 2021-01-22 at 16.28.56

Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to all who sent us poems and artwork! Keep exploring, keep discovering, and keep writing.