Children at Brook Field School celebrated National Poetry Day in October by seeing their own work in print thanks to Swindon based Natural Environment Research Council.

Fifty poems with an environmental theme were selected from some 300 entries by children at primary schools across the town to appear in the full colour booklet entitled Our World, illustrated with pictures of animals, birds, butterflies and pollution.

Marion O'Sullivan from the NERC planning and communications directorate said the inspiration for the project came from the premature death of NERC director Dr Richard Paul and the poems written by his daughters Susana and Victoria.

They and two published poets, Philip Gross and zoologist Nick Davies from 'The Really Wild Show,' were asked to judge the entries.

"The standard of poems is extremely high and it was very difficult to select which should appear in the book," said Marion. "The children have a real concern for the environment which shines through in the poems."

Three thousand copies were printed. Most have been circulated to the schools and libraries. While stocks last, copies are available free of charge from Marion O'Sullivan at NERC on 411623.