Our Green Pencil Award, for creative writing with an environmental slant, is now in its fifth year. This year’s competition, on the theme of “Birds and beasties”, attracted over 1000 entries from Edinburgh’s keenest and greenest young wordsmiths.
The overall winner was Nathan Page, a Primary 4 pupil from St Margaret’s RC Primary, who won the 2012 Green Pencil Award with his fantastic piece of writing The story of a snail. Nathan impressed the panel of literary judges with his imaginative, humorous and visual piece of writing. His trophy was presented by the Edinburgh Makar, Ron Butlin, accompanied by the 2011 winner James Macnab from Cargilfield School.
Here’s a clearly delighted Nathan struggling to find the words to describe his feelings at winning the award, followed by an accomplished reading of his triumphant entry.
Congratulations to Nathan and the other highly commended entries: Iona MacLaren, Blackhall Primary, Spring is here; Konrad Pawlikowski, Tollcross Primary, School garden of life; Lauren Constable, George Watson’s College, The kingfisher’s diary and Nathan Ezra-Jackson, James Gillespie’s Primary, The meeting.
The Green Pencil Award is run by Edinburgh City Libraries and Eco-Schools in Edinburgh with sponsorship from Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Poetry Library, Forestry Commission Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Seabird Centre and The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland who provided prizes for all the winners. In addition, the overall winner received educational visits for his class to Edinburgh Zoo, Vane Farm and a creative poetry workshop with Scottish Poetry Library.
All winners will also attend a creative workshop with Ryan van Winkle, poet in residence, at Edinburgh Central Library early next year.
Tales of One City 
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