Overton’s creative talent has been put in the spotlight, as sixteen young poets receive recognition from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. The Tales from the Riverbank Poetry Competition, which asked 7-18 year olds to get inspired by chalk streams, has now named its prize winners. One of them is Overton resident Angelina Ayres, who won 1st prize in the 10-12 age category for her poem “By the Stream, I Dream”.
The competition winners were recently celebrated at a prizegiving ceremony in Winchester, where they received certificates and National Book Tokens worth between £10 and £75. Joining them at the event were author and storyteller Amanda Kane-Smith, as well as staff from local libraries who had acted as competition judges.
The winners also received copies of a new anthology, ‘Chalk Stream Poems by Young Writers’, which showcases their incredible writing alongside illustrations by acclaimed artist Rachel Hudson and a foreword by award-winning author Amy-Jane Beer. A digital version of the anthology can be viewed on the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust website, by visiting https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/winterbournes.
The Tales from the Riverbank Poetry Competition is part of the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme, which is made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The scheme is protecting, enhancing, and celebrating seven Hampshire chalk streams, with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Wessex River Trust leading the partnership of 15 organisations.
Kathryn Boler, Watercress and Winterbournes Partnership Manager, said of the competition:
“We were so impressed by the imagination of the young people who entered our competition. Our winners created poems that are funny, poignant, and brimming with vibrant imagery – we are delighted to celebrate their achievements and share their fantastic work for everyone to enjoy.”
