Species Stories – Schools
The Species Stories Schools Writing Competition was a creative project that invited pupils in Key Stage 2 and 3 to respond to some of the South Downs National Park’s most iconic wildlife through writing and performance.
Delivered in partnership with Writing Our Legacy, the competition formed part of the wider Species Stories project, which commissioned eight writers to create original poems and stories inspired by key South Downs species, including birds, bats, bees and butterflies. These works were used as creative prompts to support children and young people in developing their own responses to nature.
Schools were invited to submit pupils’ work in a range of formats, including short stories, poems, songs, diary entries and spoken word pieces. The competition aimed to inspire imagination, improve writing skills and help young people build a deeper connection with the natural world on their doorstep, while supporting learning outcomes in the National Curriculum.
Educational resources are available below to support teachers in using the commissioned writing in the classroom and encouraging creative engagement with wildlife and conservation themes.