15 February 2010

Be inspired by butterflies, get creative with caterpillars!

Children aged eight to 11 are being invited to put pen to paper and enter a writing competition with a butterfly theme.

Butterfly Conservation has teamed up with children's author Elise Harter in a bid to inspire the next generation of lepidopterists.

The lifecycle of a butterfly - transformation from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis - is one of the wonders of nature. It is not surprising that there are many references to butterflies and moths in literature, from the Bible through Shakespeare to modern day fiction, and from poetry to musical lyrics.

Elise said: "Children might try to imagine what it is like to be a butterfly, or a caterpillar, or they may prefer to write about their observations of these little creatures. They may wish to write a poem. The main aim is for the children to enjoy writing, imagining and thinking about nature, and to convey that pleasure on the page for others to share."

Entrants need an adult to submit their story online. Entries will be accepted up to and including Friday 23 April.

The children's creations will then be made available on Elise's website where you can vote for your favorite.

For more information and the competition guidelines visit Elise Harter's website.

Prizes include copies of Nick Baker's book, "British Wildlife: A Month by Month Guide", free family tickets to Butterfly World and a bumper pack of butterfly goodies from Insectlore.