News 

To celebrate the announcement of the 2020 Green Flag Awards for Parks and Open Spaces, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful are running the #Parkyourthoughts creative writing competition.

COVID-19 has presented many challenges for schools, business and communities across Northern Ireland, and we know that many young people have also been impacted. For many of us lockdown has highlighted the importance of our Parks and Green Spaces, as they offered us a haven during a very difficult time. We have come to appreciate the role these spaces play in maintaining both our physical health and mental wellbeing.

The #Parkyourthoughts competition aims to celebrate the invaluable role of our green spaces during the pandemic, whilst also providing a platform and giving a voice to younger people in Northern Ireland who can often go unheard.

Entrants are simply required to submit a written piece (no more than 1000 words) which captures, explains or celebrates the role their local park or green space played for them during lockdown. Entries can be in the form of a poem, story, letter or other written media – all we ask is that they feature a local Green Space.

The competition is open to all school pupils in Northern Ireland, with a prize available to the primary and post primary pupil (along with their schools) who are selected as the winners.

#Parkyourthoughts competition prizes kindly donated by Gobbins Visitor Centre, Titanic Belfast and Mens' Sheds Antrim Castle Gardens.

Please see the terms and conditions for full competition details.

Terms and Conditions

1-The competition is open to all primary and post primary pupils in Northern Ireland. By entering this competition, you agree to accept and be bound by these terms and conditions.

2-Parents, guardians or the pupil’s teacher must enter on behalf of all entrants and are required to approve the entry and agree to these terms.

3-Entry opens on 14th October 2020 and the closing date for the competition is noon on 13th November 2020 (closing date). Entries received after the closing date will not be considered.

4-To enter this competition, you must write a story, letter, poem or other written media which captures, explains or celebrates the role your local park or green space played for you during lockdown. Entries must be no more 1000 words long.

5-Entries are to be submitted via email to Jamie.miller@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org and must include the entrant’s name, age, school and the entrant’s parent, guardian or teachers contact details including their email address.

6-By entering this competition each entrant confirms that his/her entry is their wholly-owned creation.

7-All correctly completed entries will first be judged by the Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful staff. The top 10 shortlisted entries will then be read and judged by the competitions sponsors. Judging decisions are final and the verdict cannot be appealed.

8-One winner will be selected from each of the primary and post-primary groups. A breakdown of the prizes is detailed below.

9-The competition will be judged within 28 days of the closing date (i.e. by 11th December 2020) and the parent, guardian or teacher of the winner will be notified by email.

10-Events may occur which render the awarding of the prizes impossible due to reasons beyond the control of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Keep Northern Ireland beautiful may, at its absolute discretion, vary, amend or suspend any of the prizes with or without notice.

11-Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful may disqualify any entrant whose entry does not comply with these terms and conditions or who, in Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’s sole determination, has acted in a manner that is fraudulent, dishonest or unjust to other entrants

12-Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into in relation to the competition.

13-Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful reserves the rights to amend these terms and conditions or cancel this competition at any stage, if deemed necessary it its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control.

Breakdown of prizes as follows: