Get your tickets now!
On the 14th of September, we’re hosting an incredible day of events delving into the world of nature and conservation writing alongside a cast of 25 accomplished and award-winning writers, broadcasters, conservationists, activists, and artists at the forefront of the nature writing movement.
Each of our three electrifying panel discussions will culminate in the announcement of this year’s prestigious James Cropper Wainwright Prize across each of its categories, followed by signings, videos, workshops, art exhibitions, immersive activities, and merch at the James Cropper Wainwright Prize Festival Hub in Kendal.
For an inspiring and immersive day of talks and activities, you can purchase your festival ticket for the full day below, giving you access to all of the day’s events as well as entry to the festival site all day long.
Can’t attend the whole day of events? No problem! You can purchase tickets for each individual panel discussion below:
Nature Books for Future Generations & James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Children’s Writing Winner’s’ Ceremony
11am-1:30pm
The morning session celebrates nature writing for future generations, with a finale announcement of the winner of the coveted James Cropper Wainwright Prize Children’s Prize.
There will be a panel discussion with the outstanding authors shortlisted for this year’s Children’s Nature Writing Prize, including Dara McAnulty and Kiran Millwood Hargrave, as well as interviews with the James Cropper Wainwright Prize Featured Artists and shortlisted Illustrators, hosted by Countryfile’s Charlotte Smith.
Line Up:
BBC Countryfile’s Charlotte Smith and Roisin Taylor, co-director for UK Youth for Nature, in conversation with multi-award-winning author, conservationist and climate youth voice Dara McAnulty; award-winning illustrator and author Barry Falls; best-selling author and Winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Kiran Millwood Hargrave; multi-media artist Tom de Freston; bestselling writer of children’s books M. G. Leonard; icon of modern-day illustration Emily Sutton; popular originator of the craft of flowers-on-tulle embroidery Olga Prinku, this year’s artist; award-winning designer, illustrator and picture-book author, as well as a previous artist for the Prize Dorien Brouwers.
Celebrating Conservation & James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Conservation Winner’s’ Ceremony
2pm-4:30pm
The first of the festival’s afternoon sessions will be a lively, poignant and timely discussion and celebration of conservation, with all of this year’s accomplished Shortlisted authors in attendance. Focusing on our relationship with the environment and hopeful methods of conservation, hear from the experts in the field, such as Gaia Vince and Charles Clover, on saving our planet and natural resources.
Finally, the all-important live Winner’s announcement will take place with The Wildlife Trusts CEO Craig Bennet unveiling this year’s winner.
Line Up:
Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, and Lee Schofield, RSPB Site Manager and author, celebrating conservation with award-winning science journalist, prolific author, broadcaster, and researcher Gaia Vince; author, environmental journalist and founder of Blue Marine Foundation, Charles Clover, whose book inspired a major award-winning documentary film on overfishing; COSTA Prize-winner keggie Carew; professor, poet and author Tim Kendall; barrister, writer and farmer, Sarah Langford; professor, founding chair of Mammal Conservation Europe, and author of the government’s official census of British mammals Fiona Matthews; writer, researcher, and environmental campaigner Guy Shrubsole; environmental scientist and conservationist Sir John Lawton whose ‘Making Space for Nature’ report to Defra continues to have a major influence on conservation policy in the UK; Mark Cropper, sustainable paper maker and conservationist.
The Legacy of Nature Books: 10th Anniversary Celebration & James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing Winner’s’ Ceremony
4:30pm-8:00pm
In an exciting finale, join BBC TV Presenter Charlotte Smith, as well as TV Presenter and leading Earth Scientist Dr Anjana Khatwa in discussion with a selection of our incredibly talented shortlisted authors, reflecting on writing on the natural world, as well as the meteoric growth of the nature writing genre.
We are then delighted to welcome a selection of our illustrious and highly acclaimed previous winners and judges, including Amy Liptrot and Benedict Macdonald, to uncover the stand-out nature books from the last 10 years, the titans of the genre, ones to watch in the future, and those diversifying the genre for the better.
Finally, Countryfile TV Presenter Charlotte Smith returns to announce our final award of the day, unveiling the 2023 James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing Winner!
Line Up:
Award-winning earth scientist, presenter, and advocate for diversity in geography and conservation Dr Anjana Khatwa in discussion with previous winner Amy Liptrot, the acclaimed, award-winning Scottish journalist and author whose debut is being adapted into a major film starring Saoirse Ronan; the first Wainwright Conservation Winner Benedict Macdonald; biologist, naturalist, campaigner for land access, and prolific writer Amy-Jane Beer; Scottish writer, visual artist and lecturer Amanda Thomson whose work tackles race, identity and belonging; bestselling nature author, broadcaster, producer of the BAFTA award-winning Springwatch, Guardian columnist and Senior Lecturer Stephen Moss; Elizabeth-Jane Burnett – poet, academic and Guardian columnist whose research explores environmental issues through creative writing; Emmy-award-winning wildlife cameraman and Wainwright Winner James Aldred; Amber Harrison, co-founder of independent, nature-focused bookshop FOLDE.
The 2023 James Cropper Wainwright Prize is held in partnership with Kendal Mountain. For four decades, Kendal Mountain has been at the forefront of celebrating the spirit of adventure. Fostering a vibrant community that embraces the great outdoors through their diverse entities, including Kendal Mountain Festival, Kendal Mountain Events, and Kendal Mountain Player.
Merchandise Available
Show-off your passion for nature with some timeless, limited edition Wainwright Prize 10th Anniversary merchandise. Available in a range of sizes and developed in accordance with strict sustainability principles, our partners Continental Clothing aim to be the most progressive sustainable clothing on Earth. Available while stocks last.
If you are not able to make it to the festival but would love to get your hands on our limited-edition merchandise, then send us an email and we’ll see what we can do.
Purchase tickets here
Tickets are only available through our partner site, Kendal Mountain Festival.