Introducing Barney & The Devon Countryside Ambassador Scheme
We would like to introduce you to a special new member, and Devon’s Head ‘Countryside Ambassador’ – Barney! He is our new emblem for children (and those young at heart!) who love Devon’s countryside and wish to protect it. Its such a big task, that Barney is looking for help! He would like primary school children across the county to join him in his task of looking after the countryside and therefore qualify as a Devon Countryside Ambassador!
Our Badge
Barney is of course a traditional Devon breed and, like his friends and family, enjoys being amongst Devon’s lush green pastures, the gently rolling hills and valleys, the riverbanks and hedgerows and sometimes gazing out to sea. He loves Devon’s countryside and wants to protect it for animals, wildlife and people to enjoy too.
As Head Countryside Ambassador, he is wearing one of our new Devon Countryside Ambassador Badges with pride. Would you like to win a Devon Countryside Ambassador badge? These badges can be won by children throughout Devon as prizes in our art competition or by getting involved in litter picking with their schools.
Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist Competition 2023 – The Competition is now open!
The search begins for Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist 2023. We are on the lookout for budding young artists who can capture the beauty and variety of the county’s natural landscapes, from its wild moorlands to its sheltered river valleys.
Young artists aged 18 and under have until the end of September to submit a painting, drawing, textile, collage or mixed media artwork of a Devon view to win the coveted title of Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist 2023. The landscape could be a favourite beach or beauty spot, a local park or green space, somewhere visited on a day out or even the artist’s back garden.
There are cash prizes for the winner of each category and the best entries will be exhibited at the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton, and we are very grateful to them for this opportunity.
We launched the competition two years ago with the support of Exeter-based landscape artist Kath Hadden, who helps choose the prize winners along with our Director, Penny Mills. The two judges have consistently been impressed with the immense talent of the county’s young artists. They are hoping to receive as many original submissions as they have in previous years depicting Devon’s stunning countryside and coastline.
Last year two Dartmoor scenes were chosen as the winning entries: 15-year-old Angelie Pickett’s accomplished painting of Ugborough stood out in the older age group, and a vibrant painting of Belstone River by 11-year-old Sophia Lopez Clarkson won in the younger age group.
Devon CPRE Director Penny Mills says, “Kath and I really enjoy looking through all the artwork, and we are always amazed by the talent of the children and teenagers who enter. We love their depictions of Devon’s coast and countryside, and we look forward to seeing what 2023 will bring. No doubt, we will again have our work cut out deciding on this year’s winners.”
The competition is simple to enter with cash prizes for each age category. £100 for the winner in each age category. £25 runner up prizes. There are two entry categories – one for teenagers (aged 12-18) and one for younger children (age 7-11).
To enter, simply post us your entry which must be A3 or A4 size, with your name, age and contact details on the back (preferrably please include an email address and telephone number) and post to us at Devon CPRE, PO Box 26, Beaworthy, EX21 5XN. (If you would like your painting returned, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope (for the right postage please! – We regret we cannot post everybody’s paintings back to them unless the postage is provided!). The closing date for submissions is Saturday 30th September 2023.
Good luck!
Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist 2021
Young artists aged 18 and under can now compete for the prestigious title of ‘Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist’ following a rebrand of our traditional painting competition for children.
This year we’ve decided to open up its annual art competition to under 18s, with new categories for older age groups. It’s a chance for Devon’s young people to engage with the Great Outdoors and showcase their artistic skills by capturing Devon’s unique and precious landscapes in the medium of their choice. The two age categories this year are 7-11 and 12-18.
The standard of entries from children has been fantastic in previous years and we’re hoping to encourage even more young people to enter in 2021 by raising the age limit to 18. We’re really looking forward to seeing what we’re sure will be some fantastic paintings and drawings capturing the natural beauty of Devon’s coast and countryside.
Anything goes as far as the choice of landscape is concerned – as long as it’s in Devon. It could be a favourite beach or beauty spot, a local park or green space, somewhere visited on a day out or even the artist’s own garden.
Last year the standard of artwork was so high during Lockdown that we produced a calendar featuring some of the best paintings and drawings of Devon’s natural environment.
We have high hopes that this new competition will yield some stunning artwork and uniquely personal perspectives of Devon in all its summer glory. The competition is simple to enter with cash prizes for each age category – £100 for the winning entry in each age category and £25 runner up prizes. We’re looking forward to receiving lots of entries.
To enter, simply post us your painting which must be A3 or A4 size, clearly marking your name and contact details on the back and age. Post to us at Devon CPRE, PO Box 26, Beaworthy, EX21 5XN.
The deadline for entries is 30th September 2021.
Good luck!
last year’s winning entries –
2020 My Outdoors Competitions Results!
What an amazing year its been for our annual My Outdoors childrens competitions. The entries came pouring in from primary schoolchildren in all corners of our county – from Barnstaple to Buckfastleigh, Woolacombe to Whimple, Exmouth to Plymouth and any number of places inbetween!
We have been absolutely thrilled at both the quality and quantity of this year’s entries. Its no surprise, perhaps, that with our youngsters ‘locked down’ for weeks on end in their homes, without the daily routine of school, they have found creative ways to expend their energy and their love for the outdoor spaces they’ve had access to. For those in urban environments, this may have been no more than a courtyard or garden or green space at the end of their road. Those who live close to the coast or countryside have enjoyed more freedom to roam. Some of our entrants used their memory to revisit favourite beauty spots and scenic locations. We have enjoyed seeing and reading about all of these places. It’s been a real pleasure discovering what our young competition entrants love about their outdoors.
Thank you to all the children who have taken part in this year’s competitions and produced some wonderful work. Thanks also to the parents and school teachers who have taken the time and trouble to get their entries to us by post and email. Judging has been very difficult, but we are pleased to announce the results.
WRITING COMPETITION
The children were asked to tell us why they think its important to protect Devon’s countryside.
Key Stage 1 – The individual winner is Ayrton Teague (Age 5) from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Buckfastleigh, who wrote
Devon is a rural area. We are country people. It is important to be proud of our countryside. A clean and tidy countryside is beautiful to see.
Key Stage 2 – The individual winner is Priya-Louise Fairey (Age 9) from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Buckfastleigh, who wrote
I like to cycle through the lanes and I love to see the bluebells in the hedges. Sometimes I see litter which makes me sad.
Highly Commended prizes go to children from Dunsford Community Academy; Whimple Primary School; Wembury Primary School; Preston Primary School Torquay; Bridestowe Primary School; and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Buckfastleigh.
The overall winning school prize goes to St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Buckfastleigh.
ART COMPETITION
The children were asked to depict ‘My Outdoors’ in any medium of their choice.
Key Stage 1 – The individual winner is Betsy Salt (Age 6) from St Peter’s Prep School, Lympstone, Exmouth for her seaside painting.
Highly Commended prizes go to children from Clyst Heath Primary School, Exeter; Compton C of E Primary School, Plymouth; Bampton C of E Primary School Bampton; Wembury Primary School; Woolacombe School; St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Buckfastleigh; St Peter’s Prep School, Lympstone, Exmouth.
Key Stage 2 – This year there are two individual winners’ prizes awarded to:
Thomasin Manley-Frost (Age 10) from St Peter’s Prep School Lympstone, Exmouth for her painting of Bowermans Nose, Dartmoor; and Graciella Sillence-Dreyer (Age 11) from Pilton Bluecoat Academy, Barnstaple for her watercolour painting of Mannings Pit.
Highly Commended prizes are awarded to children from Woodbury Salterton Primary School; Whimple Primary School; St Johns School Sidmouth; Bampton C of E Primary School; Tedburn St Mary Primary School; St Peter’s Prep School Lympstone, Exmouth; Whitchurch Community Primary School; St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Buckfastleigh; and Dunsford Community Academy.
The overall winning school is St Peter’s Prep School, Lympstone, Exmouth.
Congratulations to them all.
2020 COMPETITIONS NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES!
Once again we are delighted to be running our two competitions
for primary school children – our ‘My Outdoors’ art competition and our Writing competition – tell us why you think its important to protect the countryside. Entry forms and postcards are available from us – drop us an email on info@cpredevon.org.uk or call us on 01392 966737 – or can be downloaded below. Once again, there will be a top prize for the winning school of £200 as well as individual prizes for the winning children. Closing date for entries is 30th June 2020.
Download the information and entry forms here
CPRE Devon Writing Competition 2020
CPRE Devon Teachers Information 2020
Our competitions are a fun way to provide a creative outlet for primary school children, many of whom are spending more time than usual indoors this spring because of the coronavirus pandemic. Children in Key Stages 1 and 2 are encouraged to use their imagination to create a piece of artwork or a short piece of writing evoking Devon’s coast or countryside, or a favourite spot thats important to them. It could be a local park, a green space nearby, somewhere they have visited for a day out or even their own garden.
Because of the current situation, this year we will be accepting entries by email to avoid unnecessary trips to the post office. Simply email to us at info@cpredevon.org.uk
2019 COMPETITION RESULTS!
Thank you to all the schools and children who entered our competitions this year – we had more entries than ever before! And lots of excellent pieces of work, making it very difficult for the judges to pick the winners. But we are pleased to announce the following results:
Winner Key Stage 2 – Art competition:
Rose Greenhill (age 10) from Whitchurch Primary for her seaside painting.
Winner Key Stage 1 – Art competition:
Florence Farnell (age 5) from Bowhill Primary, Exeter for her picture entitled A Walk through Danes Wood near Killerton.
Winner Countryside Writing competition:
Marney Cruise (age 10) from Whitchurch Primary, who wrote
I think its important to protect Devon’s countryside because….
If we carry on building on green space there won’t be any room for wildlife. There are lots of houses for humans but we are still building more in the habitats (homes) of animals. Litter is a big part of the problem. The council need to conduct more litter picks. We may then have a cleaner safer county.
The Best Overall School prize was won by St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Buckfast for the writing competition; and Whitchurch Primary for the art competition.
Our Devon Countryside Ambassador Badges and Highly Commended prizes were also awarded to children from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Beechwood, Southway, Plymouth; Buckfast; Bowhill Primary, Exeter; Newtown Primary, Exeter; Hatherleigh; Exbourne; Sparkwell; Whitchurch; Wembury.
Congratulations to them all. We have greatly enjoyed visiting the schools and meeting the children. We look forward to next year.
2019 Competition Entry Forms
More information and entry forms can be downloaded here:
- Writing entry form 2018
- My outdoors entry form 2018
In 2019 we have two competitions for primary school children – our ‘My Outdoors’ painting competition and our Writing competition – tell us why you think its important to protect the countryside. Entry forms and postcards are available from us – drop us an email on info@cpredevon.org.uk or call us on 01392 966737 – or can be downloaded below. Once again, there will be a top prize for the winning school of £200 as well as individual prizes for the winning children. Closing date for entries is the end of June 2019.
CPRE Devon have supported school’s Outdoor Learning for a number of years and we’re looking forward to encouraging more children to learn about and appreciate our green spaces, environment and countryside too – and with Barney’s help! Barney’s BULLetins will be emailed regularly to all Devon’s primary schools, to keep in touch with news and events. Barney’s going to have a busy year!
MY OUTDOORS COMPETITION 2018 – RESULTS
CPRE Devon is delighted to announce the results of this year’s ‘My Outdoors’ competition for primary schoolchildren. We received entries from right across the county from girls and boys who had captured their favourite Devon landscape on paper.
The competition is a fun way to encourage outdoor learning and help young children engage with and enjoy the countryside. Pencils, paints and sticking paste were all put to use to create art works which captured the beauty and variety of Devon’s natural landscapes.
The judges were impressed with the children’s creativity and hard work. They had a hard task choosing between the entries!
Bishops Nympton Primary School near South Molton won ‘Best overall school’ and a prize of £200 towards outdoor learning. East Anstey Primary School on Exmoor and St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Buckfast were both highly commended, winning £50 each towards outdoor learning initiatives. All children who entered the competition win one of Barney’s new Devon Countryside Ambassador badges.
The individual winners were:
Key Stage 1 – Amelie Willis Smith, aged 5, from Holbeton Primary School. The judges loved her delightful collage The Beach.
Key Stage 2 – Ava Perkins, aged 8, from Clyst Heath Nursery and Community Primary School in Exeter. The judges were impressed by her painting entitled Dartmoor.
There were lots of commendations too for entries from Bishops Nympton, East Anstey, St. Mary’s in Buckfast, Holbeton and Exeter schools Willowbrook, Ladysmith, Wynstream and Clyst Heath.
Thank you to everyone who supported CPRE Devon by entering, and congratulations to all the winners!
