A dispatch from Paul Bursche, our man on the ground at this year’s Wainwright Prize ceremony.
We were delighted to be at Thursday’s Wainwright Prize ceremony, where the 2026 Wainwright Prize Book of the Year was awarded to The Book Of Birds by Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane.
The ceremony was held at in the main barn at Elmley NNR, where our CBTR Weekender was held back in May, and the big autumn skies and marshland landscape made for a very fitting location.
The Wainwright Prizes are the UK’s foremost awards celebrating nature, conservation, and environmental writing. Created in the famous fell-walker Alfred Wainwright’s name, the prizes showcase writing that celebrates nature and our environment, nurtures respect for our planet, and informs readers of the threats that the natural world faces. It was wonderful to be there in the company of so many authors and illustrators that CBTR has championed and celebrated through the years, not least the winners.
Introducing the afternoon, Wainwright Prize Director Alastair Giles said: “This year’s entries once again show just how vital and vibrant nature and conservation writing have become, not only as a form of creative expression, but as a force for change. The Wainwright Prize continues to champion those who remind us that storytelling can be a powerful step towards awareness, action and ultimately hope.”
The Winners:
The 2026 Wainwright Prize Book of the Year & Illustrative Book of the Year – The Book Of Birds by Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane
Seven years in the making, The Book of Birds tells the story of 49 British birds and is a moving call to action and a celebration of UK birdlife. Judge Errol Reuben Fernandes said,”The book is utterly beautiful and had me completely captivated. There is so much rhythm, movement and expression in their painterly depiction of the various species. The collaboration between author and illustrator has produced something very special indeed. This is a book to treasure.”
The 2026 Children’s Wainwright Prize Book of the Year & Children’s Non Fiction – Otherlands: An illustrated Journey Through Earth’s Lost Worlds by Thomas Halliday, illustrated by Gavin Scott
Otherlands is an illustrated journey into Earth’s distant path, introducing young people to the life on earth that shared the world before our time. The judges called it a “breakthrough children’s classic that will endure for decades”. The book is adapted from the adult novel Otherlands by Thomas Halliday, which was commended in the 2022 Wainwright Prize. Judge Mya-Rose Craig said, “This book is deeply knowledgeable and does a wonderful job at breaking down an extremely complex subject while remaining fun and engaging. I think that one of the goals of children’s non-fiction is to get children excited about learning, and the world around them, and this book definitely does that!”
The other Category Winners were:
The Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing – Ancient: Reviving the Woods that Made Britain by Luke Barley
Judge Michael Malay said: “Barley is a true woodlander, his fine-grained knowledge of trees drawn from years of physical labour, careful observation and devoted listening. With skill and sensitivity, he brings us deep into the heart of the woods, slowing us down to plant-speed and immersing us in the great unfolding story of our ancient woodlands. He also demonstrates – beautifully, and irrefutably – how deeply interconnected everything is, and how, by adopting the perspective ‘tree time’, the world becomes vaster, wilder and more alive.”
The Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing – The Savage Landscape: How We Made The Wilderness by Cal Flyn
Category judge Phoebe Weston said “The Savage Landscape is a compelling and thought-provoking book that unpicks the idea of ‘wilderness’. We loved how Flyn digs into this idea of untouched wilderness, looking at it from a historical, religious and philosophical perspective. It’s a challenging book to read, making you think twice about assumptions we have about wild spaces. Her exploration of how we psychologically crave wilderness and our desire to use it to live life more intensely was particularly fascinating. Flyn threads together loads of interesting ideas that kept us thinking long after we put the book down. She also challenges concepts that are the bedrock of the conservation movement, such as humans being separate from nature. Finally, the writing is extremely strong and we found it to be a highly readable book that will draw in readers with no preexisting interest in the subject.”
The Children’s Wainwright Prize for Fiction – The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis
Judge Abi Elphinstone said: “The Danger of Small Things is a brilliantly original and thought-provoking story. It demonstrates, with such power, the fragility of the natural world and the courage needed to save it. This is a call-to-arms that will empower teenagers across the country and urge them to care for each other and the planet they inhabit.”
The Children’s Wainwright Prize for Picture Books – The Great Bear by Annie Booker
Judge Ash Bhardwaj said: “A magnificent book that explored morality and human impact through a tale of wonder and hope. Some of the most powerful, moving and beautiful illustrations I have seen in a children’s book. Each page was a work of art.
Our congratulations to all the winners and nominees at this year’s awards.