Catherine Sleeman and Alisha Riley shortlisted for The Nature Writing Prize for Working Class Writers

Catherine Sleeman, Alisha Riley and Jennifer Ratcliffe have been shortlisted for The Nature Writing Prize for Working Class Writers, alongside Rosalind Pounder, Ju RowFarr and Melanie Banim.

The prize, now in its fifth year, aims to "break down barriers", and was set up by the writer Natasha Carthew to create opportunity for working-class nature writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. It is supported by the Arvon Foundation, the Campaign for National Parks and Gaia Books — an imprint of the Octopus Publishing Group.

The award includes one year’s free membership to the Campaign for National Parks, and a £300 paid commission to write a National Parks-inspired piece for Viewpoint Magazine. In addition, an Arvon Course of choice is part of the prize, which also offers three one-hour mentoring sessions with a Gaia commissioner, and a single one-hour mentoring session with a literary agent, as well as a book bundle from Octopus Publishing Group.

Moreover, the six shortlisted writers will receive a book bundle from Octopus Publishing Group. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 2nd July.

Entries for the prize were shortlisted by a panel of acclaimed judges including authors Dr Anjana Khatwa, Niellah Arboine and Tony Putman, as well as literary agent Harriet Poland, publishing professional Polly Smith and last year’s winner Kirsty Whatley. Also judging the prize this year were Carthew, Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller, Juliet Pickering, vice-head of books at the Blake Friedmann Literary Agency, and Stephanie Jackson, publisher at the Octopus Publishing Group.

"The prize aims to break down barriers and create opportunities for working class nature writers from all over the country, and this year’s cohort doesn’t disappoint," founder Carthew said. "With an incredible number of entrants that truly celebrate the diversity that exists in nature writing, this year’s prize, now in its fifth year, celebrates nature in all its guises, whileproviding a platform for underrepresented writers at the very earliest stage of their careers."