Children's Poetry Competition

Woodlands Farm's writer in residence, Clare Best, organised poetry competitions at two local schools: Kirton Primary School and Middlecott School Kirton. Children wrote on subjects connected with the farm and with healthy eating. Many of the poems entered were written at Clare's workshops following school visits to the farm.

Gerard Benson, the well known children's poet and performer, and founder of 'Poems on the Underground', was competition judge and prize-giver. On National Poetry Day, October 6, he performed his own poems, read out the children's winning poems and awarded certificates and prizes at special assemblies at both schools.

Middlecott School Winners

Year 8

I put in the magic box for my mum

I put in my box the scaly rough skin of a cow that felt like a lizard.
I put in my box the knowledge that a turkey has seven wives.
I put in my box the stench of cow manure
and I put in my box the sweet smelling oranges that reminded me of the drink.
I put in my box the cool winter chill which pierces the skin.
I put in my box the running soft woolly cloud sheep which we cruelly cornered.
I put in my box the tacky green of a kiwi which looked like the stem of a daffodil.
I put in my box gold because it was the only colour I didn't see today
I put in my box flying sheep so we can have more clouds in the sky.
I put in my box the glistening white potatoes.
I put in my box the orange carrots which stand out like the potatoes.

Nick Woodward

Middlecott School's Poems