The new-look Wainwright Prizes, which honour exceptional nature and conservation writing, today announced its six longlists and their independent judging panels. The Prizes spotlight writing and illustration that celebrate the natural world and inspire readers of all ages to protect it.
2025 marks a bold new chapter for the Prize, growing to six distinct categories to reflect the evolving landscape of nature writing and environmental storytelling, especially for younger audiences. The expanded awards now recognise illustrative books reimagining the children’s prize to encompass fiction, non-fiction, and picture book categories, and highlighting a growing urgency to engage and inspire readers of all ages with the natural world.
A total of 69 books have been longlisted across the Prize’s six categories: Nature Writing, Conservation Writing, Illustrative Books, and three Children’s Prizes—for Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Picture Books. The longlists were drawn from a wide range of submissions that reflect the breadth, depth, and vibrancy of contemporary nature writing.
Among the longlisted authors and illustrators are celebrated names including Michael Morpurgo, Katya Balen, Robert Macfarlane, Hamza Yassin, John Lewis-Stempel, Seán Ronayne, Alys Fowler, Guy Shrubsole, Melissa Harrison, Richard Mabey, Eilish Fisher, Emily Gravett, Tom Heap, Isabel Thomas, Yuval Zommer and the late Benjamin Zephaniah.
Alastair Giles, Prize Director, says:
“As we enter The Wainwright Prize’s second decade, the necessity to showcase and celebrate the very best of Nature and Conservation Writing has only strengthened. Although the plight of nature has never been more troubling, we have also witnessed a wave of enthusiasm from readers over the past few years. We hope The Wainwright Prize can continue to motivate people to reconnect with the environment, both physically and intellectually. With this year’s expansion to six categories, we’re especially proud to reflect the evolving landscape of environmental storytelling and to champion work that inspires younger generations to care for and protect the natural world. We can’t wait to find out which books from our 2025 longlists will be shortlisted later this summer before we choose our eventual winners.”
This year’s Wainwright Prize judging panels bring together a dynamic mix of voices from across environmental journalism, conservation, literature, education, and the creative industries. Spanning six categories, the judges include authors, illustrators, scientists, campaigners, broadcasters, and thought leaders—each offering a unique lens through which to assess today’s most compelling environmental stories. Their expertise reflects the growing breadth, creativity, and urgency of nature and conservation writing for all ages.
The judging panels are as follows:
Luke Sherlock – Author & Owner of Sherlock & Pages bookshop – Judging Chair
Soraya Abdel-Hadi – Founder of All the Elements
JC Niala – Anthropologist and Nature Writer
Alastair Humphreys – Writer & Adventurer
Ash Bhardwaj – Broadcast Journalist, Author and Storyteller
Dr Khalil Thirlaway – Biologist and Host of Natural History Museum Podcast – Judging Chair
Hannah Martin – Co-Director of the Green New Deal Rising
Marion Atieno Osieyo – Founder and Host of Black Earth Podcast
Craig Bennett – Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts
Henry Bird – Environment Newsletter Writer, The Times
Lee Schofield – Ecologist and Author – Judging Chair
Lucy Lapwing – Naturalist and Communicator
Francesca Willow – Writer, Artist, Climate Campaigner
Jack Baker – Host of Pangolin: The Conservation Podcast
Mark Funnell – Communications and Campaigns Director, National Trust
Ella Al-Shamahi – National Geographic Explorer, Presenter, Stand-up Comedian, Palaeoanthropologist & Evolutionary Biologist – Judging Chair
Dan Green – Editor of The Week Junior Science+Nature
Tim Herbert – Editor of National Geographic Kids Magazine
Dr Jess French – Author, Vet, and Presenter
Uju Asika – Children’s Writer & Consultant – Judging Chair
Jennifer Bell – Author
Emily Wainwright – Planting Designer and Illustrator
Alex Try – Director of Communications, RSPB
Cassie Chadderton – Chief Executive of World Book Day
Mwaka “Mwaksy” Mudenda – Blue Peter Presenter – Judging Chair
Frann Preston-Gannon – Illustrator & Author
Jon Klassen – Illustrator & Author
Mariajo Ilustrajo – Illustrator & Author
Mikey Please – Author & Illustrator
The 2025 shortlists will be revealed on 5th August, with the winners announced at a special ceremony on Wednesday 10th September (ceremony date and venue to be confirmed).
At the awards ceremony, in addition to the six individual category winners, two outstanding titles will be honoured as the overall winners of The Wainwright Prize: one for adult writing and one for children’s writing. These will be selected from the respective category winners and recognised as the overall Wainwright Prize winner 2025 and the overall Children’s Wainwright Prize winner 2025. The two overall winners will receive £2,500 each, with the remaining category winners each awarded £500.
The Wainwright Prize was founded, and is still supported by, both the Alfred Wainwright Estate and Frances Lincoln, publisher of the Wainwright Guides and is grateful to its partners and supporters, whose shared commitment to connecting people with nature help make the Prize possible. The Prize is also delighted to welcome National Geographic Kids and World Book Day to their growing network, joining existing partners The RSPB and long-standing supporters The Wildlife Trusts and The National Trust. Together, these organisations play a vital role in supporting the Prize’s mission to inspire a deeper connection with the natural world.