Tree-mendous secrets from great writers

We asked writers to tell us their “Secrets of the Trees” in our Festival writing competition - we let their imaginations branch out, and more than 150 authors submitted poems and stories. Today, we can announce the Top 12 shortlisted secrets, chosen by our team of volunteer judges that included past competition winners and festival writers-in-residence. These 12 pieces have been edited by Chris Bestwick and will be published in a limited illustrated chapbook published by SampsonLow, with fabulous artwork by Alban Low to be made available from 8th May. You can pre-order chapbooks from our Festival online shop here.

The shortlisted authors will be reading their pieces at the WRITE ABOUT TREES Showcase on Sunday 21 May from 4.30pm (online) - the event at which all will learn who are the winners and runners-up. Winners will be receiving a cash prize!

Shortlisted pieces and their authors:

• Galia Admoni - Tree

• Julian Bishop - Warning: Dangerous Tree

• John Bowen - Jacaranda: Blue on Blue

• Adam Elms - Fallen Comrade

• Em Gray - Evergreen

• Lizzie Gwinnell - Deirdre

• Andrew Halsall Smith - When the Bough Holds Strong

• Rayna Haralambieva - Trees are poems Sung by the Wind

• Cheryl Markosky - Sucking

• Arthur Sparrow - Death of a Veteran

• Penny Walker - 4Ever

• Kyra Williams - The Forest