Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the James Cropper Wainwright Prize is awarded annually to the authors that have most successfully inspired readers to explore the great outdoors and to have increased understanding and respect for our natural world. 

Today the winners of this prestigious writing prize were announced at a special festival style event in Kendal, with books judged across three categories: Nature writing; Writing on conservation; and Children’s writing on nature and conservation. This year’s winning books cast a spotlight on some of the world’s most remarkable habitats – wild rivers, lost rainforests and the breathtaking Arctic – inspiring readers of all ages to reconnect and cherish nature’s exceptional wonders. 

We’re delighted to share the winners of the 2023 Wainwright Prize are: 

 FOR NATURE WRITING:  

• WINNER: The Flow: Rivers, Waters and Wildness by Amy-Jane Beer (Bloomsbury)  

• HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Golden Mole: and Other Living Treasure by Katherine Rundell, illustrated by Talya Baldwin (Faber)  

FOR WRITING ON CONSERVATION:  

• WINNER: The Lost Rainforests of Britain by Guy Shrubsole (William Collins)  

• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Nomad Century: How to Survive the Climate Upheaval by Gaia Vince (Allen Lane)  

FOR CHILDREN’S WRITING ON NATURE AND CONSERVATION:  

• WINNER: Leila and the Blue Fox, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, illustrated by Tom de Freston (Hachette Children's Group)  

The Wildlife Trusts were pleased to be able to mark the achievements of these talented authors today, and all those that were shortlisted for this year’s prize (see earlier blog for full list). Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts chaired the judging panel for the ‘Writing on Conservation’ Award, and shared his thoughts on the winning title: 

“A highly original, meticulously researched and beautifully written book, which takes the reader on a thrilling journey to one of the rarest, most precious habitats to be found in Britain, while also offering some powerful ideas and hope about how the decline of these majestic rainforests might be reversed. Shrubsole’s inquisitive, determined, passionate personality shines through, and offers the reader education, inspiration and entertainment from start to finish”. 

For a book on Britain’s lost rainforests to be shortlisted and then win this year’s Wainwright Prize is double cause for celebration at The Wildlife Trusts, as we recently embarked on one of our largest ever programmes to restore lost temperate rainforest habitat in western Britain. Long overlooked, this hugely important habitat can play a crucial role in helping to address the nature and climate crises we are living through – and public awareness of this is critical if we are to succeed (find out more about this ambitious restoration programme here).  

Without nature writing to captivate and inspire, the world would be a much poorer place; these books make an important contribution to building greater understanding of our environment, but also the mounting issues faced – leading readers to look for ways that they can help make a difference. Which is where we can help! 

To find out more about the prize, which aims to reward outstanding literary titles inspired by the general outdoors, UK nature and travel visit: www.wainwrightprize.com. For actions you can take to help nature’s recovery see: www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions.