Young Country Diary Seeks Nature Articles from Children
's wildlife series, Young Country Diary, is inviting children aged 8 to 14 to submit articles about their recent spring encounters with nature. This quarterly initiative encourages young writers to share their observations, whether it involves a toad, a flower, or a garden bird.
Submissions are now open, and the deadline for spring entries is noon on Monday, 4 May. Four articles will be selected for publication—two in April and two in May. Early submissions received before 20 April may be considered for the April editions.
Importantly, expertise in nature is not required. The series particularly welcomes teachers interested in inspiring their classes to explore the outdoors. Additionally, children whose articles are published will receive payment.
How Children Can Participate
Participation requires parental or consent. The process for children to take part is as follows:
- Visit a natural environment such as local woods, a beach, garden, farm, or park.
- Write an article of 200-250 words describing what they observed and experienced.
- Submit the article using the online form, which should be completed by the parent or .
While photographs or drawings are not mandatory, they are appreciated, especially landscape-oriented images. If available, parents should mention these in the "more information" section of the submission form, as there is no option to upload files directly.
Tips for Young Writers
For children unsure of what to write, the following guidance is offered:
- Begin by focusing on the senses: what was seen, heard, smelled, or touched? Taking notes during the outing can help preserve details.
- Describe the events clearly and consider any associations or memories they evoke.
- Research additional information about the subject, such as the species of an insect or lifespan of a butterfly, to enrich the article.
- Choose to describe either the broader environment—sky, horizon, landscape—or focus on minute details like wing patterns or markings.
- Reflect on the thoughts and feelings the nature encounter inspired.
The deadline for submissions is noon on Monday, 4 May. Entries are accepted from children aged 8 to 14 residing in the UK. If selected, the parent or will be contacted regarding publication and payment arrangements.
Additional Information and Contact
Paul, editor of Young Country Diary and Country Diary, encourages participation and notes the importance of parental involvement in the submission process. The online form is encrypted to ensure data security, and only has access to the information provided. A journalist will contact the parent or prior to publication.
Parents can submit their child's article through the designated online form and are encouraged to provide detailed contact information for follow-up purposes. Contact details will remain confidential and accessible only to .
If assistance is needed with the submission form, help is available. Participants are advised to review the terms of service and privacy policy before submitting.
"We ask that the parent/ fills in the form below, rather than your child. Your responses are secure as the form is encrypted and only has access to your contributions. One of our journalists will be in contact with you, as parent or , before we publish, so please do leave contact details."
For inspiration, recent Young Country Diary entries can be reviewed to understand the style and content expected.
