We’re delighted to announce the winning entry for the 2022, Year of Stories, Green Pencil creative writing competition is Lukas Bell of Boroughmuir High School with his poem, Foggy Bummer.
We invite you to listen to a special recording of Lukas’ poem read by poet, Roshni Gallagher –
You can hear all four of our finalists read their highly commended entries in yesterday’s blog post.
On behalf of Edinburgh Libraries’ ‘Green Pencil’ Team, we would like to say “thank you” to all our schools, teachers and pupils, who took part in Green Pencil 2021, making it a truly successful competition.
Today we launch Green Pencil 2022 and hope for just as many fantastic entries!
Our environmentally themed creative writing competition, is open to all P4 to P7 aged children and young people in S1 to S3 in Edinburgh. The deadline for entries is 21 October 2022.
We’re taking the ‘Year of Scotland’s Stories’ as our theme. Are you a budding story writer? Could you write a story/ poem/ prose with an environmental theme? It could be about yourself, your pet, a special place or your favourite animal that relates to your life in Scotland. You could include Scotland’s landscapes, lochs, towns and villages. A story or poem that captures the reader’s imagination, piques interest and brings your writing to life.
Entries can be poetry, prose or story, all we ask is that the writing is the author’s own work and is no longer than one side of A4 paper.
We would like to apologise to our Finalists, but due to circumstances outwith our control we are unable to host a face to face event for Green Pencil 2022.
We will do our utmost to bring back this special live event in the future.
We will be producing the Green Pencil brochure where all Finalists’ work will be printed and these will be sent to schools in the new year.
Our 4 Highly Commended Finalists will have the opportunity to record their work and these will be read out online, and will be featured here on our Tales of One City blog.
The date for this online event will be forwarded to all Highly Commended Finalists shortly.
We’re delighted to announce the winners of the Breaking the News photography competition which invited people to submit photographs that told a story from their area or community.
We had dozens of fantastic entries and you can see them all in our special Breaking the News photography competition scrapbook on Edinburgh Collected.
Our three judges had a difficult decision but after careful deliberation have awarded the following three newsworthy entries as the winners.
1st prize – Fire on Calton Hill by soggybiscuit
2nd prize – Discoveries in Leith during tram works by bartles
3rd prize – Swing Dancers At Pavillion Cafe, The Meadows by MartinaMac
Congratulations to our winners and many thanks to everyone who entered the competition!
This competition was run as part of a wider project in collaboration with the British Library and the Living Knowledge Network of libraries on the theme of Breaking the News.
Enter Edinburgh Libraries’ Breaking the News photography competition and become part of a community archive of Edinburgh memories.
Show us what’s happening in your area! Take a photograph that tells a story from your neighbourhood. The story can be big or small but should be related to your community.
For example, what is the greatest change happening where you live? What are people interested in locally? What events are taking place?
The competition is free to enter but all submissions must be submitted via Edinburgh Collected (www.edinburghcollected.org) where they will become part of an online community archive for Edinburgh. The image should be titled and can include a text description of up to 1500 characters but the image should really tell the story.
There are fantastic prizes to be won! Enter for a chance to win:
1st prize – afternoon tea for two at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh
2nd prize – afternoon tea for two at the Mercure Hotel, Edinburgh
3rd prize – an Edinburgh Monopoly board game.
Entrants must create an account with Edinburgh Collected to upload your image(s) and add the tag ‘BreakingTheNews’ when uploading entries to the website so that they are identifiable. (Please also read the Edinburgh Collected terms and conditions.)
The competition runs from 1 April to 30 June 2022 and is open to all.
This competition is part of a wider project in collaboration with the British Library and the Living Knowledge Network of libraries on the theme of Breaking the News.
Terms and conditions
1. Closing date for entries is 30 June 2022
2. The photograph submitted must be your own work
3. You must agree to Edinburgh Collected terms and conditions
4. The place featured must be within the City of Edinburgh Council boundary
5. Add the tag ‘BreakingTheNews’ to all competition entries
6. There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit, but there will be only one winning entry per participant.
There were smiles all round on 28th November at Central Reference Library when finalists in the Green Pencil Award collected their prizes watched by their families and teachers, at a ceremony hosted by Councillor Donald Wilson, Convener of Culture and Communities.
The environmentally-themed creative writing competition, funded by Edinburgh Libraries, has been running for 11 years and is open to P4-S3 pupils attending City of Edinburgh Council and independent schools across Edinburgh, as well as home-schooled children. This year’s theme was ’Going, Going, Gone-Scottish Wildlife in Danger?’ The competition was launched in August at Blackhall Library by children’s author Vivian French, who led a writing workshop for P6 pupils from Davidson’s Mains Primary.
There was a record number of over 1200 entries, from which 20 finalists and an overall winner were selected by a judging panel whose members came from the Scottish Book Trust, Edinburgh International Book Festival, National Trust for Scotland, Edinburgh Libraries and Schools and Lifelong Learning.
Generous prizes were donated by sponsors, including RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, Jupiter Artland, RSPB, Scottish Book Trust, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Forth Boat Tours, the Woodland Trust, Alien Rock, Scottish Seabird Centre, Camera Obscura, NTS and Scottish Natural Heritage.
This year’s overall winner was Charlotte Schlegel, from Preston St Primary, for her story ’The Different Perceptives.’ Charlotte was presented with the Green Pencil trophy and a medal to keep by Vivian French and last year’s winner, Liam Guyatt.
This year’s overall winner was Charlotte Schlegel, from Preston St Primary School.
The judges commented, ‘What really struck us was the way that Charlotte’s story addressed the topic so well, giving a real sense of her concern for our wildlife. She cleverly managed to tell her story from two different points of view, both human and animal, in her own, very personal way. We were impressed with the originality of the story in depicting both the natural environment of Scotland and Charlotte’s concern for it.’
The 20 winning entries appear in a brochure which goes to all public libraries, sponsors and schools that submitted entries to the competition.
This year’s winners
We’re delighted to announce the lucky winners of our Nutcracker Quiz and Pantomine Fun Quiz held at Central Library over the festive period.
Congratulations to Henry aged 7, who won the Nutcracker Christmas Quiz competition. Henry now has two tickets to see Jill Murphy’s ‘The Worst Witch’ at the King’s Theatre, thanks to the generosity of Capital Theatres.
Congratulations also to Abby aged 5, who won the Pantomine Fun Quiz at Central Children’s Library and received her prize of a selection of picture books.
Thanks to everyone who took part.
Central Library is delighted to offer the chance to win tickets to see ‘The Worst Witch’ at Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre on Tuesday 7 May 2019. 2 pairs of tickets have been generously donated by Capital Theatres for this family-friendly show based on the book by Jill Murphy. Definitely something to look forward to in 2019!
The performance is suitable for children 7+ so you must be aged between 7 and 11 to enter the competition.
To be in with a chance of winning, complete The Nutcracker Christmas Quiz at Central Library. Pick up your quiz sheet from the Children’s or Music Library and remember to hand back your completed sheet before your leave the library. All the answers can be found in The Nutcracker display which is on view on the Mezzanine level at Central Library.
The competition runs until 31 December. Remember to include parent/carer contact details so that the lucky winner can be contacted on 11 January 2019.
Good luck!
There were smiles all round when finalists in the Green Pencil Award collected their prizes with their families and teachers, at a ceremony hosted by Councillor Alison Dickie, Vice-Convener for Education, Children and Families on 22nd November at Central Reference Library.
The environmentally-themed creative writing competition, funded by Edinburgh Libraries, has been running for 11 years. This year’s competition was launched at the Queen’s Park Education Centre in August by children’s author Vivian French, who led a writing workshop for P6 pupils from Preston Street Primary.
To tie in with 2018 being the Year of Young People, the award was opened for the first time to S1-3 pupils, as well as P4-7 pupils from City of Edinburgh Council and independent schools across Edinburgh. Because of this, the theme was ’Young People and the Scottish Environment’. There was a record number of 1245 entries, from which 20 finalists and an overall winner were selected by a judging panel whose members came from the Scottish Book Trust, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh Libraries and Schools and Lifelong Learning.
Generous prizes were donated by sponsors, including RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, Jupiter Artland, RSPB, Scottish Book Trust, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Bedlam Paintballing, Dynamic Earth,Camera Obscura, NTS and Historic Environment Scotland.
This year’s overall winner Liam Guyatt, from St Margaret’s RC Primary is presented with the Green Pencil trophy along with a medal to keep by Councillor Alison Dickie.
The judges comments on Liam’s winning story ’Ferry Glen’, “What really struck the judges was the way that Liam’s story addressed the topic so well, giving a real sense of a young person enjoying the Scottish environment. Liam cleverly managed to create a wonderful picture of this beautiful place, with all its sights and sounds, in his own, very personal way. We were impressed with the humour and originality of the story which in no way took away from the depiction of the natural environment and Liam’s appreciation of it.’
All 20 finalists attended the event.
The 20 winning entries appear in a brochure which goes to all public libraries, sponsors and schools that submitted entries to the competition.
We received dozens of wonderful pictures in our Children’s Library art competition to draw a picture on the theme of Peter Pan for the chance to win a family ticket to see Wendy and Peter Pan, this year’s magical Christmas show at the Lyceum Theatre.
The judges had a really difficult task of choosing a winner. In fact, the standard of entries were so high that they decided to award two runners up with book tokens as well!
1st prize went to Maja aged 10 for this very atmospheric flying scene:
Our runners up were Jamie, aged 7, for his awesome crododile drawing:
and Kajsa, aged 8, for a night-time scene with the wow-factor!
Thanks to everyone who entered and a huge thanks once again, to our friends at the Lyceum Theatre for giving such a brilliant top prize.
Christmas has come early this year! We’re delighted to have the support of The Royal Lyceum Theatre who have very kindly provided a prize for a Children’s Library art competition.
Enter a drawing or painting on the theme of ‘Peter Pan’ for a chance to win a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) to a performance of The Lyceum’s eagerly anticipated Christmas show, ‘Wendy and Peter Pan’. The ticket is available on either 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th or 13th December 2018. The competition is open to anyone aged 5-11 years.
Here’s how to enter:
1. Draw or paint on an A4 sheet of paper a picture relating to ‘Peter Pan’.
2. Write your name and age on the back
3. Ask your parent/carer to put their email address or phone number on the back also.
4. Hand in your artwork to the Central Children’s Library, 7. George IV Bridge, EH1 1EG
5. Please note, the library will not be able to return your artwork
6. The closing date is Saturday 24 November 2018
7. The winner will be notified on Tuesday 28 November 2018. Prize to be collected from Central Library
Good luck!
Two of our competition winners visited us in Central Library last week to collect prizes, canvas prints of their winning entries in the My Edinburgh Photography Competition. Prizes were kindly donated by Jessops Edinburgh who sponsored the competition.
Paddy and Helen collect canvas prints of their winning entries Botanic Gardens and Human Dovecote
Winning entries were selected from the dozens of pictures submitted to our photography competition on Edinburgh Collected for their combination of image and text describing favourite places in Edinburgh.
You can see all the fantastic entries to the My Edinburgh competition in a scrapbook on Edinburgh Collected.
The tenth annual award ceremony for the City of Edinburgh Council creative writing competition, open to all P4 – P7 pupils in Edinburgh, took place in the Central Reference Library on the 30th November. The event was hosted by Councillor Alison Dickie, Vice-Convener of Education, Children and Families and was attended by the 20 finalists along with their families and teachers.
Green Pencil Award Finalists
The Green Pencil Award aims to promote literacy, in particular reading and creative writing. It also helps raise awareness and encourages learning about important environmental topics. This year’s theme was ’Edinburgh’s Natural Heritage’ and over 800 entries were received from P4-7 pupils across the city on a range of topics from Edinburgh Castle to Portobello Beach.
Prizes were donated by our sponsors, including the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Scottish Book Trust, Dynamic Earth, National Trust for Scotland, Royal Scottish Zoological Society and Camera Obscura.
This year’s overall winner was Chrissie Clark from Edinburgh Academy for her poem ‘The Three Bridges’.
Green Pencil Award winner Chrissie Clark receives this year’s award from Councillor Alison Dickie
The judges commented, “What really struck us was the topical subject of Chrissie’s poem. Some of us may have walked across the Queensferry Crossing in its inaugural weekend, and been amazed by the wonderful feat of engineering that it represents, and the beautiful sight of the three bridges. Chrissie cleverly managed to weave in her own, very personal impression of the bridges, and rounded off a nicely structured piece of work with a satisfying and humorous conclusion”.
All the winning entries are published in a brochure which will sent to all schools who took part.
The Summer Reading Challenge has arrived! The challenge for children aged 5-12 is to read six books over the school holidays. The theme is Animal Agents – who are investigating strange goings on in the library! Children collect stickers as they go and help crime busting creatures solve the clues to reveal the mystery!
On successfully completing the challenge, children receive a certificate and a gold medal!! There are also some excellent prizes on up for grabs this year including Dynamic Earth family passes, astronomy evenings at the Royal Observatory and Edinburgh Leisure passes, with more to be confirmed.
Pop into your local library and sign up to join in the fun. Borrow some animal agents themed books whilst you are there or any book you like. You can also find out what children’s activities will be taking place over the summer in your library whilst you are there. As well as borrowing books from the library you can even download some of our children’s ebooks and audiobooks to join in with the fun. Check out our Summer Reading Challenge collection on our OverDrive Kids site.
The Animal Agents adventure starts on the 23 June and runs until 27 August.
1987 was a huge year for readers everywhere. It was the year that John Rebus first sprang to life on the page of Ian Rankin’s novel Knots and Crosses. Smoking and drinking too much and firmly his own man, he was already the dedicated, irrepressible, canny detective we all love today.
Ian Rankin
Thirty years later, John Rebus is one of the best loved detectives out there, still working cases in Edinburgh and still as alive on the page as ever. The new Rebus story Rather be the Devil is out now in paperback.
Rebus Fest is your chance to celebrate Rebus, and enjoy the music, art, writing and yes, booze, that has both inspired, and been inspired by, the iconic detective. Rebus Fest events will be held across Edinburgh from 30 June to 2 July 2017. Find out more and buy tickets here http://www.ianrankin.net/rebusfest.
Tickets are selling fast, with some events already sold out, so we have a library competition for you to win the chance to sample the very essence of Rebus.
Take part to win a pair of tickets to an exclusive Highland Park WhiskyTasting on Saturday 1 July at 1.30 at the Caledonian Hotel, a well-known Edinburgh (and Rebus) landmark). Hosted by Martin Markvardsen, the brand’s Senior Brand Ambassador, he will walk you through why Highland Park stands apart from other single malt Scotch whiskies and why Rebus is a fan. The tasting will include 4 special Highland Park whiskies including Highland Park Rebus30, 10 Year Old.
The winner, along with five lucky runners up will receive a paperback copy of the new Rebus novel Rather be the Devil.
To enter the competition simply tell us – In which Scottish city does John Rebus live and work ?
1. Glasgow
2. Aberdeen
3. Edinburgh
Email you entry to informationdigital@edinburgh.gov.uk by 12 noon on 23 June.
You can catch up with some of John Rebus’s earlier cases in this library selection of the best of Edinburgh crime fiction
We ran not one, but two competitions as part of our Digital Reading Week at the beginning of November! The lucky winner of our OverDrive competition was Sally Butler. Sally borrowed some ebooks to go on holiday and came home to find that she was the recipient of a shiny new Fire Tablet.
It was great to hear that Sally has been using our OverDrive service since its inception in 2010 finding it especially useful when travelling. The beauty of it is that you can checkout new titles from anywhere whether you are in the South of France or the doctors waiting room!
New titles are added to OverDrive every two weeks meaning there is always something new to check out. If you don’t find anything you fancy remember that users can always recommend titles and authors using our Book Recommendation Form.
Last week the Central Library hosted this year’s Green Pencil Award Ceremony when 20 finalists, their friends and families and other special guests came to the awards ceremony held in the Reference Library on Thursday 24th of November. Councillor Richard Lewis attended to hand out the prizes.
The 2016 finalists from left to right
Bethany Woodburn – Cargilfield School, Megan Rutherford – Bruntsfield Primary, Afra Schwannauer – Preston Street Primary, Jemma Cattanach – Bruntsfield Primary, Catherine Byrne – Cargilfield School, Alice McGuire – Hermitage Park Primary, Greta Grant – Leith Primary, Councillor Richard Lewis, Lily Chatwood – Leith Primary, Cara Campbell – Pentland Primary, Catriona Simpson – Preston Street Primary, Finlay Black – Cargilfield School, Blair Henderson – Clifton Hall School, Rachael Smyth – Davdison’s Mains Primary, Natalie Ruzgar – St Margaret’s Primary, Amy Brand – Oxgangs Primary, Samuel Joester – Wardie Primary, Rose Kinsler – Sciennes Primary, Seren McDougall – Bruntsfield Primary
This year the theme was ‘Scotland’s Glorious Gardens’, Edinburgh school pupils in the P4 to P7 age range were inspired by the many gardens, parks and green spaces that we are lucky enough to have, and to enjoy using, here in the City.
Councillor Richard Lewis congratulates the winner, Rachael Smyth from Davidson’s Mains Primary
The Award aims to promote literacy, in particular reading and creative writing and firing the imagination. It also helps raise awareness and encourages learning about nature and other important environmental topics.
Rose Kinsler from Sciennes Primary reads her entry to the crowd
This is the ninth year the competition has run. This year’s competition was launched by the author Vivian French on September 1st at Central Children’s Library and Princes Street Gardens with pupils from Preston Street Primary School.
The Green Pencil Award
The night was a great success and we very much look forward to next year’s competition.
Today is the third annual International Read an eBook Day and you’re all invited to take part! Read an eBook Day is a yearly celebration of modern story telling. It’s a day dedicated to promoting the convenience, capability and excitement that digital reading provides.
OverDrive, our eBook supplier, are encouraging people to use the hashtag #eBookLove today on social media to be entered into the chance of winning a free tablet.
Visit the Read an eBook Day website for more information. There you’ll find reading recommendations, links to social media posts, a place to share what you’re reading and even interviews with authors who are participating in Read an eBook Day.
Show your #eBookLove all day long and join us in celebrating the ability to read anytime, anywhere!
Young entrants in the Green Pencil Award will explore the competition’s theme, Scotland’s Glorious Gardens.
Last week children’s author Vivien French joined pupils form Preston Street Primary School for a special writing workshop in Princes Street Gardens to launch the competition.
Amelie Colgrave, age 10, and Vivien French, author, admire the view in Princes Street Gardens
Children, who must be p4 to p7, can write a poem or story, which could focus on anything from a memorable visit to a Scottish garden like the Royal Botanic Gardens or a creative depiction of what the ideal Scottish garden would look and smell like.
Culture Convener, Councillor Richard Lewis, said: “This is a popular and engaging competition for budding writers across the city, and always produces many creative and compelling entries from young people.
This year’s theme should also inspire more visits to our fantastic range of parks and green spaces so I look forward to reading the creative writing to result from it.”
Councillor Richard Lewis and children’s author Vivien French with pupils from Preston Street Primary School.
Find out how to enter the Green Pencil Award and inspiration for your poems from this library booklist
The closing date is Friday, 14 October, with an awards ceremony to be held at the Central Library in late November.
The judging panel had the very difficult task of choosing 3 winners from nearly 100 fantastic competition entries for Myplace: Edinburgh, part of the celebration of the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016.
The combination of photograph and the memory it evoked made these 3 entries the winners.
You can see all the entries on Edinburgh Collected
First Prize – Granton Pier
by arghnothingworks
‘As someone born in Edinburgh there are many places that I have wonderful memories that I cherish.
One place stands out above all of those. Granton. While it’s not a spectacular towering monolith or an aging building featured in tour guides, it is a special and unique part of Edinburgh.
This place is special to me because it reminds me of spending time with my father and uncle. Waking up early and walking down to the harbour as a boy. Hopping and walking down the pier taking care not to lose my footing on the quarry rock. Placing our small radio down and learning to cast a fishing rod. Wearing my gloves and hat when it got chilly and walking back tired to the bus stop.
It’s been years since my father passed away and many more since I’ve been fishing. I was overjoyed to see that even at night people still enjoy going down to the pier to fish. While it may seem a small part of everyday life, these people are undoubtably crafting memories that they will one day look back on remembering the good and the bad.
I still have those precious memories of walking down the pier with my father. Hopefully I’ll never lose those, and hopefully this will always be a place I can go to relive those memories.’
Second Prize – Sunset at Portobello Beach
by createdeye
‘I don’t think there’s a better place in Edinburgh to watch the sunset than Portobello Beach. It’s peaceful, calm and there are usually not many people around. And when the sunset is like this, well, what more can you say?’
Third Prize – Rush hour
by Mrgu82
‘Arthur Seat has always been a place for me to get away from the fast pace of city life.’
Prizes are kindly donated by the Festival of Architecture 2016 and are awarded for 1st prize (£200), 2ndprize (£100) and 3rd prize (£50).
You can still visit Edinburgh’s Pavilion at the Cities Expo part of the year long Festival at the Mound until Sunday 17 July.
There are still a few days left to enter the MyPlace: Edinburgh competition. For inspiration here are some of the entries so far.
David Hume Tower in twilight
Steal Softly Thru Snow
Frozen in green
From Blackford Hill
See all the entries in the MyPlace: Edinburgh scrapbook on Edinburgh Collected
Terms and Conditions
1 The photographs you add are your own work
2 Agree to Edinburgh Collected Terms and Conditions
3 Place or building must be within the City of Edinburgh Council boundary
4 Add the tag ‘competition16’ to your memory to enter the competition
5 Closing date for entries Sunday 10 July
There is still time to visit the Edinburgh Pavilion at the Pop-Up Cities Expo until 17thJuly to see some of the entries! Follow us at #popupedin
Tales of One City 