The Laurel Prize 2021 – Shortlist
UK Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, and the Poetry School, are delighted to announce the shortlist for the second year of the nature and ecopoetry collection award – The Laurel Prize.
Simon generously donates the £5,000 honorarium he receives annually from the Queen to fund the First Prize. Run by the Poetry School, the prize is awarded annually for the best published collection of environmental or nature poetry. This year the Laurel Prize opened to submissions in the English language from poets globally and the list reflects this.
The shortlist which was judged by the poets Maura Dooley (Chair) and Imtiaz Dharker and ClientEarth founder, lawyer and poet James Thornton, is as follows (in no particular order):
The Laurel Prize awards £5,000 (1st prize), £2,000 (2nd prize) and £1,000 (3rd prize). There’s also a £500 for Best First Collection.
The winners will be announced at a Prize Ceremony after the Laurel Prize Poetry Day:
Fri, Oct 8 – Laurel Prize Poetry Day. Expect a compelling day of poetry readings and workshops at special locations across Yorkshire Sculpture Park, including the beautiful 18th century Chapel, to celebrate the Laurel Prize. Free readings and pre-paid workshops. Each event requires individual advance booking AND a valid YSP Visitor ticket for the day.