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 will put in the magic box for my mum, dad and brother

In my box are,
the cackling turkeys with fluttering feathers
the bulls and the cows so large and small
the cute little lambs with a white curly coat and
the sheep running and coming to a halt.

In my box are,
the sounds of the tractor going along the bumps,
the wind hailing against my face and
the turkey's cackle going through my mind.

In my box are,
the smells of wet and dirty lambs and
the beautiful fresh air in and out of my nose.

In my box are,
the sunny but chilly weather and
the tiny drops of snow lying in my palms,
the weather that froze my feet like a puddle of ice,
the day's coming and going.

My box is made of swirling love wrapped up in hay and straw.

Rebecca Sansam

Middlecott School's Poems