WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING WELCOMED BACK TO CUMBRIA
We are thrilled that James Rebanks, a local sheep farmer and author from Matterdale has won this year’s UK Nature Writing Wainwright Prize.
The Wainwright Prize is named after esteemed writer Alfred Wainwright, a Kendal local famous for his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells; James Rebanks’ win together with our sponsorship has highlighted a shared heritage and common interest in conservation held by organisations and individuals with roots in Cumbria.
The prize aims to reward outstanding literary titles inspired by the general outdoors, UK nature, travel and conservation. Alongside James Rebanks, Merlin Sheldrake won the Global Conservation and Climate Change Prize for Entangled Life.
James Rebanks won the UK Nature Writing award for English Pastoral, which tells the story of how rural landscapes around the world have been brought close to collapse, and the age-old rhythms of work, weather, community and wild things are being lost. It illustrates what it means to have love and pride in a place, and how, against all the odds, it may still be possible to build a new pastoral.
Being based in the Lake District ourselves, we are of course delighted that James Rebanks’ English Pastoral has won this year’s prize for UK Nature Writing. James writes eloquently and passionately about his farm and the surrounding beautiful landscape which inspires us all.RICHARD BRACEWELL, MARKETING DIRECTOR
Having produced bespoke book papers for over 175 years, including for Alfred Wainwright’s wonderful Pictorial Guides of the Lake District, we are very proud to now be sponsoring the Wainwright Prize, celebrating the very best of today’s writing on nature and conservation.
Pictured left to right: Richard Bracewell, Marketing Director at James Cropper and Jane King, Step-daughter of Alfred Wainwright.
James Rebanks adores his home and job and that's reflected in his writing. His message of respect for the old ways and understanding of the complexities of farming for the future make this a really important book. And it's all couched in beautiful prose.JULIA BRADBURY, NATURE PRIZE JUDGING CHAIR
In 2005, James Cropper produced a custom-made paper, matching the paper from the first editions, for the 50th Anniversary Wainwright pictorial guides that were once again printed in Kendal.
As specialists in upcycling fibre, we created the world’s first recycling process dedicated to upcycling take-away cups. By harnessing the valuable natural fibres in the billions of coffee cups thrown away every year in the UK, the CupCycling® facility has closed the loop for what was once an enormous waste stream, giving it new life.
Pictured: Steve Adams, Managing Director at James Cropper Paper
This is the eighth year of this special prize, and the restorative effects of natural capital were reflected keenly in this year’s entries.
Wainwright Prize short-listed authors pictured left to right: Anita Sethi, Charlie Gilmour, Cal Flyn, Kerri ni Dochartaigh, Raynor Winn, Marc Hamer
