Fluttering, flittering, Fleetingly skittering, The bats burst out the tangle of ash, Swerving, zipping, Instinctively flipping, The evening acrobats dash, Deftly dancing, Artfully darting, Whirring wings above me flash, Flickering, twisting, Skittishly skimming, My heart leaps at needle squeak, Zigzagging, twirling, Swiftly swerving, Detector splutters as they streak, Swaying, scooting, Nimbly swooping, Their movement so unique, Frolicking, frisking Lithely flicking, A summer evening’s treat, Rippling, skimming, Briskly quivering, Prehistoric flyers free, Weaving whirling, Agilely turning, Bats seem wondrous to me.

I breathe in beauty from my bower, as my boots swing above the brook. I hear the scurble of the stream as it scurries over stones, and the scritching scratch of Artemis, scrabbling for bones.  And a flabby tubby burble as the swashy water tumbles in the plastic tunnel liner through the limestone bridge that funnels, the day’s rain from the moor. Past the fields and fences, festooned with fluffy fronds from lambs that gawk and gambol as the golden weir gushes, rusty peaty water through the valleys and the culverts I pass the gaudy, sludgy torpor of the pond by the meander, and the dragonflies that startle rising flashing from the bushes as my busy wellies bustle crushing boggy bristly rushes. I see silvery flickering glimpses of the fishes in the reeds, as the frothy waters swirl, bearing branches burrs and seeds, and dancing shadows and reflections from the clouds and fresh green trees. The brambles, sparrows, crows and finches sing a battle of the bands as a scary creeping sickness quiets the tractors, cars and vans. A falcon hovers hungry, voles and mice are in its sights, Until the purple streaks of sunset usher bats towards the night.  

Am I too small to save the bees?  It’s a shame to lose them, can I help them please? We planted some trees my mummy and me,  The nectar they love and their home is the tree. Am I too small to help I ask?  My grandad said no and we set off on a task,  We built a hotel for the bees to stay  It has wooden tubes for them to play   Am I too small to really help out? My daddy said I can help without a doubt Using less water in the garden is a good start We have two water butts now, how smart!  Am I too small to save a bee?  I look in the garden at all I can see  I’m not too small to help at all  Can’t wait to make a difference even when I’m tall.

Author and judge Sophie Anderson joins Bex to announce the winners of the WildVerse Competition 2018, 8-12 Category.

Author and judge Sophie Anderson joins Bex to announce the winners of the WildVerse Competition 2018, 13-18 Category.

Author and judge Sophie Anderson joins Bex to announce the winners of the WildVerse Competition 2018, in the 7 & under category.

Laura Dockrill reads out the runners up and winner of the Wildverse competition!  Winner: Izzie - I Wonder 1st Runner Up: Cicely Thorpe - Our Sea 2nd Runner Up: Chioma - Midnight in the Forest 3rd Runner Up: Grace - In the Woods

Laura Dockrill reads out the runners up and winner of the Wildverse competition!  Winner: Laura - Rugged Beauty 1st Runner Up: Lucy - The Transient Treecreeper 2nd Runner Up: Reece - Please See a Spider's Worth 3rd Runner Up: Poppy - The Wild Woods

Laura Dockrill reads out the runners up and winner of the Wildverse competition!  Winner: Jacob - The Oak Tree 1st Runner Up: Alasdair - The Shell 2nd Runner Up: Cailtin - The Blue Sky 3rd Runner Up: Rowan - A Walk in the Woods    

'The Salmon Jump' was named the winner in the 13-18s category for Wildverse 2016, a competiton run by Fun Kids and the RSPB.

'Our Furry Friend' was named a runner up in the 13-18s category for Wildverse 2016, a competiton run by Fun Kids and the RSPB.

'Coronation' was named a runner up in the 13-18s category for Wildverse 2016, a competiton run by Fun Kids and the RSPB.

'Primroses' was named the winner in the 8-12s category for Wildverse 2016, a competiton run by Fun Kids and the RSPB.

'The Red Breasted Merganser' was named a runner up in the 8-12s category for Wildverse 2016, a competiton run by Fun Kids and the RSPB.

'The Hungry Kittiwake' was named a runner up in the 8-12s category for Wildverse 2016, a competiton run by Fun Kids and the RSPB.

'The Green Leaf' was named the winner in the Under 8s category for Wildverse 2016, a competition run by Fun Kids and the RSPB.

'Brilliant Bird Weather' was named a runner up in the Under 8s category for Wildverse 2016, a competition run by Fun Kids and the RSPB.

The Newt Addition was named a runner up in the Under 8s category for Wildverse 2016, a competition run by Fun Kids and the RSPB.

Lily was named the winner in the Over 13s category! This is her poem, The Colours of Autumn! 

Helena was named a winner in the 8-12s category! This is her poem, Woodlouse! 

Tom was named the winner in the Under 8s category! This is his poem, Robins, Cockerels, Goldfinches and Ducks! 

Alex was named a runner up in the Over 13s category! This is their poem, The Fox! 

Georgia was named a runner up in the Under 8s category! This is her poem, Hen Harriet! 

Ada was named a runner up in the 8-12s category! This is her poem, When You Go Out For A Walk! 

Amy was named a runner up in the Over 13s category! This is her poem, The Unfortunate End of a Horse Chestnut Tree!

Clover was named a runner up in the 8-12s category! This is her poem, Will They Ever Come Back!

Ginny was named a runner up in the Under 8 category! This is her poem, Wriggly Wriggly Worm! 

Kayleigh Peace penned this winning poem in the 140 characters or less category for Wildverse 2013.

Jordi was named the winner of Wildverse 2013’s Under 8s category! This is her poem, Blackberry

Melon Uldrigle by Mairenn was awarded the winner’s crown in the 13-18 years old category!

The winner of the 8-12s category in Wildverse 2013 was Charlotte with this poem, Snorkelling with Seals in the Isle of Scilly!

Aaron was a runner up in the 8-12s category in the Wildverse 2013 competition with his poem Birds In My Garden.

In the 13-18 years old category this poem by Hayley was chosen as a runner up, A Rusty Smudge!

An Ordinary Day by Merry was picked as a runner up in this year’s Wildverse competition.

This poem, The Aerial Master by William, was one of the two runners up in the 8-12 years old category!

One of the two runners up in the Under 8s was this poem by Isobel – Frogs!

Howl by Elizabeth placed as a runner up in the 13-18 years old category in Wildverse 2013.

This Wildverse poem is by Imogen age 16 and is the winner of the over 8’s category.

This Wildverse poem is by Nial Evans aged 7 and is the winner of the under 8’s category.

This Wildverse poem is by Rebecca age 9 and is a runner up in the over 8’s category.

This Wildverse poem is by Kit Sunderland age 7 and is a runner up in the under 8’s category.

This Wildverse poem is by Hettie age 7 and is a runner up in the under 8’s category.

This Wildverse poem is by Billy age 8 and is a runner up in the over 8’s category.

This Wildverse poem was written by Ben Shaw-Curtis aged 7 and is a runner up in the over 8’s category.

This Wildverse poem is by age Oliver Knight aged 14 and is a runner up in the over 8’s category.