CLIMATE CRISIS DOMINATES AS AUTHORS CALL FOR URGENT ACTION

 
The James Cropper Wainwright Prize, which was named after much-loved nature writer Alfred Wainwright and created to celebrate connection with nature and the outdoors, has announced its 2023 shortlists in three categories.

Dartmoor-based Guy Shrubsole is shortlisted for this prestigious prize in the Writing on Conservation category. Regeneration is the theme of ‘The Lost Rainforests of Britain’ by the environmental campaigner, which tells the captivating story of our ancient forgotten temperate rainforests and the inspiring intervention to help restore them in the Lake District, Wales, Devon and beyond.

 Fiona Mathews and Tim Kendall are also shortlisted in the same category. The husband and wife team from Devon, have been shortlisted for ‘Black Ops and Beaver Bombing’, their entertaining and informative book on native British mammals in all their weird and wonderful glory, and a rallying call to try and save them before it is too late.

For the first time in the prize’s 10-year history, women dominate the shortlists, with 13 female authors – including Gaia Vincent, Katherine Rundell, Keggie Carew, Kiran Millwood Hargrave and

M.G. Leonard – out of the 19 shortlisted.

While confronting the reality of a world in crisis – from extreme weather to food insecurity, polluted oceans, and endangered species – and a clarion call for urgent action, the shortlisted books also offer solace and optimism, as well as radical solutions to heal our planet and ourselves through our connection with nature.

Authors on the Conservation shortlist were praised by judges for their ‘positive energy’ in exploring many of our deepest challenges as they offer pragmatic solutions for rewilding oceans and forests, reimagining our habitats and rethinking our relationship with nature.

The shortlistees come from a wide range of backgrounds both within and outside of environmental engagement; from TV presenters and charity workers to poets and visual artists, including a former criminal barrister, a comedian, and two husband-and-wife duos.

In the 10 years since the Prize’s inception, sales of books about the natural world have soared, with  increased interest in the climate, the healing power of nature, and the extraordinary wild world around us. The shortlists celebrate this ‘golden age’ of nature writing.

The winning authors will share an increased prize pot of £10,000 to honour the Prize’s 10th anniversary.

This year’s judging panels are chaired by TV presenter Ray Mears (Nature), CEO of The Wildlife Trusts, Craig Bennett (Conservation) and National Trust’s Communication and Campaign Director, Mark Funnell

(Children’s).

Mark Cropper, Chairman of James Cropper and a judge for the Writing on Conservation Prize says: “The James Cropper Wainwright Prize and its authors and books are all about trying to open peoples’ eyes to what’s happening in the world. Stories shared range from the wondrous to the deeply concerning and often  back again, as solutions to many of our deepest challenges are explored.”

Mark Furnell, Chair of Judges for Children’s Writing on Nature and Conservation Prize, says:
“The sheer quality and diversity of titles shortlisted for this year's James Cropper Wainwright Prize for

Children’s Writing underline just how vibrant the writing and illustration are in this genre right now. There is something for everyone, from gripping novels, to deeply affecting stories, and informative non-fiction, all of which are inspiring and bring readers closer to the beauty and fragility of nature in today's world."

The winners of all three categories will be announced live on 14th September at the James Cropper Wainwright Prize 10th Anniversary Celebration, held in partnership with the Kendal Mountain Festival. This is the first time the James Cropper Wainwright Prize ceremony has been open to the public to watch the winners be announced live. Tickets are available from: https://tickets.kendalmountainfestival.com

The Wainwright Society

The Wainwright Society was formed in 2002 and now has over 2000 family members. The Society promotes Alfred Wainwright’s vision of introducing a wider audience to fell-walking and caring for the hills. www.wainwright.org.uk

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