James Aldred’s Goshawk Summer: WINNER of the James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing 2022
We are delighted to share the news that Goshawk Summer: The Diary of an Extraordinary Season in the Forest by David Attenborough cameraman James Aldred won the James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing 2022 at a ceremony at the London Wetland Centre last night
In early 2020, wildlife cameraman James Aldred was commissioned to film the lives of a family of goshawks in the New Forest. Then lockdown. No more cars, no more aeroplanes, no one in the woods – except James – in a place empty of people but filled with birdsong and new life.
At this unique moment, James was granted a once in a lifetime opportunity to keep filming. And so, over spring and into summer, he began to record his experiences in a place empty of people but filled with birdsong and new life.
Amidst the fragility and the fear, there was silver nights, tumbling fox cubs, calling curlew and, of course, the soaring goshawks – shining like fire through one of our darkest times. A goshawk summer unlike any other.
Ray Mears, TV presenter and Chair of the Wainwright judges, described the book as a “beautiful inspirational tale set in an extraordinary time. Nature is abundant all around us, if only we could take the time to really look for it”. Mears said “This wonderful book shows us how.”
Read more on James and the other winners and shortlisted books here.
A big thank you to the judges and of course huge congratulations to James – great to see your magical book celebrated in such style.