POEM FOREST in the media

With the POEM FOREST prize recently kicking off for another exciting year, we’ve loved seeing the buzz in the media!

Illawarra Mercury wrote about our new planting partnership with Wollongong City Council, who are helping us create a new branch of POEM FOREST on Dharawal Country, bringing canopy cover to streets, parks and reserves all around Wollongong.

ABC’s Radio National spoke to POEM FOREST 2023 commissioned poet Helena Fox about the launch of the prize, climate anxiety, and the crossover of themes in POEM FOREST and her new YA book, The Quiet and the Loud. Helena also gives a reading of her gorgeous commissioned poem, 'Elegy for a Living Sea', which you can listen to here.

On launch day, ABC Victorian Evenings spoke to Red Room Poetry Artistic Director Tamryn Bennett and Helena Fox. We also spoke to ABC Western Queensland and ABC Hobart helped us launch the prize with a conversation between POEM FOREST 2023 judge and Hobart College student Hannah Fairbrother and award-winning Tasmanian children’s writer and teacher Blake Nuto.

Another winner from last year, Harper Murray, was featured with his commissioned poem 'One Breath (Manawa Kotahi)' in Teen Breathe, alongside five awesome tips to connect to nature and discover your poetic voice.

Entries to the POEM FOREST prize are open now until 22 September 2023 to young people 18 and under and accredited teachers. Get inspired with our curriculum-aligned Learning Resource and submit your entry here. Remember, every poem plants a tree!