Hampshire’s chalk streams are some of its most precious wild places. These globally rare habitats are home to iconic species like the otter, water vole, brown trout, and kingfisher. With their serene beauty and vibrant wildlife, it’s no surprise that chalk streams have inspired authors like Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, Richard Adams (Watership Down), and Charles Kingsley (The Water Babies).
This year, there are several exciting new ways to discover our chalk streams. The Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme is teaming up with Hampshire Library Service to continue a literary tradition that spans centuries. We’ll be sharing our favourite river-focused books, and celebrating creativity through a poetry competition and literature festival.
The poetry competition which is free to enter, asks 7-18 year olds to write a short poem inspired by the wonderful world of chalk streams. Winners will receive National Book Tokens worth up to £75, and have their poems published in a special commemorative booklet. Entrants must live within the Watercress and Winterbournes scheme area and submit their poem by midnight on 31st July 2024.
Both children and adults can also enjoy a watery literature festival this summer. Participants can expect to hear talks by prominent nature writers like Amy-Jane Beer and Tom Moorhouse, and to explore their own creativity with chalk stream-themed writing workshops.
The events will be held this June in Andover, Whitchurch, Overton, and Alresford.
For more information on the ‘Tales from the Riverbank’ competition and festival,
Visit www.hiwwt.org.uk/tales.
Our work is made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
