Wild Places and Wonder

Posted On : 02/04/2026

To celebrate 75 years of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in 2027, we’re inviting young poets to take part in a special competition.

Write a poem inspired by the landscapes, wildlife, and places in the National Park that you love most. From stormy cliffs to quiet woods, ancient stones to sandy beaches – if it makes you feel something, it belongs in your poem.

Let your words wander. Let them roar, whisper or soar.

Age categories:

  • Under 11
  • 11-16

The winning entries will be published in the 2027 edition of Coast to Coast and will receive a £50 voucher to spend at Carew Castle or Castell Henllys, and a National Park goody bag.

How to take part
If the entrant is under 16, the poem must be submitted with the permission of a parent or guardian.

Send one original poem of up to 40 lines to poetry75@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk by 11.59pm on 31 December 2026.

Please include the entrant’s first name and age, plus the name and email address of a parent or guardian.

Full terms and conditions apply.

An illustration of the Pembrokeshire coastline and its wildlife, with an open notebook and pen.

Terms and Conditions

  1. The promoter of this competition is Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.
  2. The competition is open to children and young people living in the UK in the following age categories:
    Under 11
    11 to 16
  3. Entrants must be aged 16 or under on 31 December 2026.
  4. Entry is free.
  5. To enter, send one original poem by email to poetry75@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk by 11.59pm on 31 December 2026.
  6. Poems must be no longer than 40 lines.
  7. Each entrant may submit one poem only.
  8. Poems must be the entrant’s own original work and must not infringe the rights of any other person.
  9. Poems must be inspired by the landscapes, wildlife or places of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
  10. Entries must include:
  • the entrant’s first name
  • the entrant’s age
  • the name of a parent or guardian
  • the email address of a parent or guardian
  1. By submitting an entry, the parent or guardian confirms that they have read and accepted these terms and conditions and have given permission for the child or young person to enter the competition.
  2. Entries received after the closing date, or entries that do not meet these requirements, may not be considered.
  3. Entries will be judged by a panel appointed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.
  4. Entries will be judged on creativity, originality and response to the theme.
  5. One winner will be selected in each age category. The judges may also award highly commended entries.
  6. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  7. A prize will be awarded in each category. The winning entries will be published in the 2027 edition of Coast to Coast and will receive a £50 voucher to spend at Carew Castle or Castell Henllys, and a National Park goody bag. No cash alternative will be offered.
  8. The promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize with one of equal or greater value if necessary.
  9. Winners will be contacted using the parent or guardian contact details provided with the entry.
  10. If a winner cannot be contacted within 14 days of notification, or does not respond within that time, the promoter reserves the right to select another winner.
  11. If, in the opinion of the judges, no entry in a category is of sufficient merit, the promoter reserves the right not to award a prize in that category.
  12. Copyright in each poem remains with the author.
  13. By entering the competition, the entrant and their parent or guardian grant Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to publish or display (including on digital or social media) winning and highly commended poems in connection with the competition and the Authority’s 75th anniversary publicity.
  14. Unless additional permission is obtained, any published poem will be credited using the entrant’s first name and age category only.
  15. Personal data supplied for this competition will be used only for administering the competition, contacting winners, arranging prizes and publishing winning entries in the 2027 edition of Coast to Coast, unless separate permission is given for any other use.
  16. Personal data will be handled in accordance with Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s privacy policy.
  17. The promoter reserves the right to amend, suspend or cancel the competition where necessary.
  18. By entering the competition, entrants and their parents or guardians are deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions.