Ashdown Forest - Nature inspires and creates rich memories and emotions

NATURE'S ability to reach into the soul and create rich memories and emotions was the common theme of this year's Ashdown Forest poetry competition

More than 200 entries were received from across the UK, and the two winners have now received their prizes at a presentation at The Forest Centre on Colemans Hatch Road, Wych Cross.

Bethany Hilton won the Teens category for her poem “Pause”, which impressed the judges with its call to stillness.

They said: "This poem urges the reader to take time away from the stresses of contemporary life to appreciate the calm of Ashdown. Its simplicity is its power."

Kevin Scully’s poem “The Family Tartan” won the Adults category. This also stirred the emotions when read aloud.

His poem was described by the judges as 'a beautifully constructed elegy that uses everyday imagery to contemplate human frailty. We loved this poem for its delicately wrought celebration of life and the lasting power of love.'

Both received a complete set of Winnie-the-Pooh books, courtesy of publishers Farshore.

The judges were Ashdown Forest’s Poet in Residence Sian Thomas, novelist Sanjida O’Connell, and best-selling author and nature writer Kathryn Aalto.

The competition was organised by The Ashdown Forest Foundation, whose Chair Robin St Clair Jones said: "We were blown away by the number of entries, their quality and the many different ways in which the Ashdown Forest clearly inspired the poets.

"The topics covered included love, loss, childhood and history, and they were truly inspiring."

You can read both poems here Congratulations to the winners of the Ashdown Forest poetry competition 2024 | The Conservators of Ashdown Forest
From left to right: Robin St Clair Jones (Chair of The Ashdown Forest Foundation), Kevin Scully (winner in the adults category), Bethany Hilton (winner in the teens category), Rosalyn St Pierre (Vice Chair of the Board of Conservators of Ashdown Forest)    Photos by David Tingley