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This year, we are once again asking you to tell us your stories of Scotland’s wildlife and wild places within the theme: From source to sea.

Whether it’s a memorable moment on a riverside walk, an amazing experience at one of Scotland’s seabird colonies or an epic encounter on one of our snorkel trails, we would love to hear about it.

Submissions can be in English, Scots or Gaelic up to 1,000 words long and written in any form: poem, letter, short story, essay, song lyrics – whichever works best to tell your story.

This year’s competition is in association with the Scottish International Storytelling Festival and supported by the Riverwoods Blueprint Project and Sea the Connection, both led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

 

In association with

 

Prizes

A winner from each age and language category will be selected by our panel of judges and will receive an amazing prize bundle:

Adult winners (18 years and over)

Junior winners (under 18 years)

Two runners-up in each category will also receive one of our wildlife adoption packs.

Winners will be announced at a special event as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival in October.

Prizes generously donated by

 

Our judges

Submissions will be judged on their originality, creativity and inspirational qualities by our fantastic panel of judges…

Craig Aitchison
Scots language judge

Craig’s poetry has featured in Lallans, Nutmeg and Poetry Scotland. He was awarded a New Writers’ Award by the Scottish Book Trust for writing in Scots. In 2023, he won the Wigtown Prize for Scots Poetry and the Badenoch Poetry Competition. This year sees the publication of Tweed, his long poem about the River Tweed from source to sea.

Susi Briggs
Scots language judge

Susi is a poet, author, storyteller, musician and podcaster. A former Scots Scriever, she takes much inspiration from the natural world and recently wrote a series of poems inspired by the life and works of Nan Shepherd.

Seonaidh Charity
Gaelic language judge

Seonaidh is a Gaelic poet, author and secondary school teacher who lives on the Black Isle. Originally from Lochbroom, he has won a number of awards for his writing, including the Wigtown Gaelic Poetry Prize in 2023 and the Best Unpublished Manuscript at the Gaelic Literature Awards 2024.

Anne Frater
Gaelic language judge

From Upper Bayble in the Isle of Lewis, Gaelic is Anne’s first language. She worked in various roles in broadcast media before returning to Lewis in 1999 as a lecturer on the UHI Gaelic-medium degree programmes. Anne’s poems can be found in the two collections, Fon t-Slige (1995) and Cridhe Creige (2017).

Eve McIntosh
English language judge

Eve is an experimental poet & avid eco-horror enthusiast, born in Dundee & based in Glasgow. She holds the title of Scottish Young Makar 2024, endorsed by the Scottish Poetry Library. Eve is currently an editor for From Glasgow To Saturn and Big Red Cat Zine.

Len Pennie
Scots language judge

Len is poet who writes in both Scots and English. She writes passionately about the promotion of minoritised languages, survivors of domestic abuse and the destigmatisation of mental illness. Renowned for her Scots Word of the Day on Instagram, she has published two books: Poyums and Poyums Annaw.

Dr Kenny Taylor
English language judge

Kenny is a writer, editor, conservationist and musician. He is the current Chair of the Scottish Wildlife Trust and is the editor of Northwords Now, a literary magazine showcasing contemporary creative writing from the Highlands and Islands.

Terms and Conditions 

Thank you for your interest in our Words of the Wild competition. Please select ‘more’ below to read the full terms and conditions of entry.

  1. This competition is open to all UK residents.
  2. Entrants’ submissions and personal details (eg name and age) may be used in communications about, and promotion of, the campaign. No other information will be shared. You can withdraw your information/entry at any point. All personal data will be held in accordance with our privacy notice.
  3. Entries must be submitted via the online form above or by post, sent to: c/o Pete Haskell, Words of the Wild, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Harbourside House, 110 Commercial Street, Edinburgh EH6 6NF. Unfortunately, we cannot return entries submitted by post.
  4. The deadline for entries is 11:59pm on 31 August 2024. Late entries will not be considered.
  5. Scottish Wildlife Trust staff and immediate family members are excluded from entering the competition.
  6. Submissions must be in English, Scots or Gaelic. They must be no more than 1,000 words (excluding title) and must be an original piece of work written by the entrant that isn’t published anywhere (or in the process of being published) and has not been entered into other competitions. Copyright will remain with the author. 
  7. Entrants may only send one submission. If multiple entries are submitted by the same entrant, only the first will be considered for the competition and any additional entries disqualified.
  8. Submissions will be judged anonymously by an expert panel, who will judge submissions based on their originality, creativity and inspirational qualities. They will not be judged on spelling or grammar. The judges’ decision is final and there is no scope for feedback on individual entries.
  9. Winners will be announced at an event at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival in October (date TBC), with the finalists invited to attend. Those shortlisted will be contacted in September.
  10. Winners will be contacted within three days of the announcement and must respond within 21 days in order to claim their prize. If a response has not been received from the entrant within 21 days, they will forfeit the prize and the Scottish Wildlife Trust will offer the prize to the next eligible winner.
  11. Every prize-giver is responsible for their own prize and the terms and conditions of that prize. No responsibility can be taken by the Scottish Wildlife Trust or any of the judges for the prizes, their safe delivery or redeeming them. Prizes are as specified and cannot be exchanged.
  12. Submission of an entry will be taken to mean acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. Entries that fail to comply with these Terms and Conditions will be disqualified.

*Only one of each of the junior prizes listed are available and as such junior winners will not be given a choice as to which they receive. Prizes will be given at random or allocated based on location and age.

**Basking Shark Scotland are offering one experience snorkel trip including kit hire. Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and there is a minimum age of 8 years. Attendees need to be able to swim 100m unaided and be fit enough to undertake the activity. A medical disclaimer is required before commencing the activity. Prize is valid for the 2025 or 2026 season. A minimum number of participants on snorkelling trips is required. 

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