The Moth Nature Writing Prize aims to encourage and celebrate the art of nature writing. It is awarded annually to unpublished pieces of prose or poetry which best combine exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writers’ relationship with the natural world.

An entry consists of a single poem of any length (not a collection of poems) or a single piece of prose (fiction or non-fiction) of up to 4,000 words.

Each year a single judge is asked to choose winners from entries worldwide. Previous judges include Richard Mabey, Helen Macdonald, Max Porter, Kathleen Jamie and Cal Flyn.

The prize is open to anyone over the age of sixteen, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.

THE PRIZES

1^st prize €1,000 and a week at The Moth Retreat in Ireland

2^nd prize €500

3^rd prize €250

THE JUDGE

Multi-award-winning author and naturalist, Mark Cocker, will judge The Moth Nature Writing Prize 2025. Mark has written 13 books, including Crow Country, A Claxton Diary and One Midsummer’s Day: Swifts and the Story of Life on Earth. He co-founded several environmental organisations, including the Oriental Bird Club and New Networks for Nature, and has been a country diarist for The Guardian for the past 38 years.

‘Profound knowledge, uncanny ability to observe and heartliftingly exact prose.’ The Times

HOW TO ENTER

The Moth Nature Writing Prize is open to anyone over 16, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. There is a 4,000 maximum word limit (for prose and poetry).

The entry fee is €15 per entry (a single poem or piece of prose). You you can enter as many times as you like, along with €15 entry fee.

You can enter online or send your entry along with a cheque or postal order made payable to ‘The Moth Magazine Ltd.’ with an entry form or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of your piece attached to: The Moth, Ardan Grange, Milltown, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland H14 K768.

Please read the rules before you enter.

The Prize closes 30 September 2025.

The winning entries will appear in the Irish Times online.

You will need to subscribe to our mailing list if you wish to be notified of the results