West Berkshire nature writer a contender for Wainwright prize judged by Ray Mears
"I am thrilled out of my boots," Inkpen author Nicola Chester told @newburytoday after the announcement that her first book On Gallows Down: Place, Protest & Belonging has reached the Nature Writing longlist for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize. This comes hot on the heals of her winning the Richard Jefferies Award earlier this year.
Named after much-loved nature writer Alfred Wainwright, the aim of the prize is to inspire everyone to connect with nature and embrace the outdoors.
This year’s longlisted books reflect "the astonishing range and depth of nature writing, with titles that confront difficult, yet vitally important issues around climate change and food supplies; celebrate the wonder of life in our back gardens and illuminate the healing power of nature". As established authors vie with exciting up-and-coming writers in the genre, independent publishers dominate, with 14 represented across the three longlists.
The prize categories are in Nature Writing, Conservation and the new Children’s Prize.
"It is immense!," Nicola told us. "Local support - as well as wider support on social media & from readers and my publisher, Chelsea Green has been fantastic, and I’m so grateful. I’d like to thank everyone.
"It’s such a prestigious award - one I’ve long dreamt of being associated with - and hot on the heels of winning the Richard Jefferies Award, too."
As a school librarian at John O’Gaunt School, Nicola said they also really appreciate the addition of a new Children’s Book Award category for nature too, "It’s important and timely, so we’re watching that, too - and the school ‘family’ are rooting for me.
"The longlist is full of brilliant and very lovely authors and books, so who knows. I wish them all luck. Reading and writing is such a powerful force for change, celebration and action, in this case, for nature."
Nicola is looking forward to more countrywide ‘tours’ with the book, including Dartington’s Ways With Words’ Literary Festival in Devon and events in Sheffield, Manchester and ‘Gathering’ at the wonderful Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk (of Springwatch fame).
The paperback is out on the 14th July.
https://wainwrightprize.com/news/james-cropper-wainwright-prize-2022-longlists-announced/
Now in its ninth year, the Nature Writing Prize judging panel is chaired by TV presenter Ray Mears. The prize shortlists will be announced on July 28 and the winners announcement will be made live on September 7 at The London Wetland Centre.
On Gallows Down is strongly rooted in Nicola's background and formative years in the Newbury area, a period that included the Greenham Common Peace Camp and Newbury bypass protests, followed by her own family life in cottages on the Highclere and Inkpen estates. It is filled with gentle protest and hope. It begins with the rewilding of Greenham Common and reflection on the Women’s Peace Camp and then moves to the Newbury Bypass protest, and through other environmental battles along the way, loosely charting Nicola’s children growing up. It is about the fierce desire to protect the nature and landscape that Nicola loves. "It's about family, rural working class life, writing, reading and influencing what you do not own," she said.