A BOOK by Somerset Wildlife Trust president, naturalist, broadcaster, and author Stephen Moss has been shortlisted for this year’s 10th anniversary James Cropper Wainwright Prize.

It is the second time Mr Moss, who lives near Bridgwater, has been shortlisted for the award, which celebrates nature, the natural environment, and nurturing respect for the planet.

He was nominated in the nature writing category for his book Ten Birds that Changed the World.

It tells an eye-opening story of humanity’s long relationship with birds, from ancient civilisation to today’s climate crisis, spanning all seven continents.

The Wainwright Prize is named after nature writer Alfred Wainwright and aims to inspire everybody to connect with nature and embrace the outdoors.

This year’s shortlisted books offer ‘solace and optimism while confronting the reality of a world in crisis which calls for urgent action and radical solutions’.

The winners will be announced on September 14 at an exclusive festival-style celebration in Kendal, in the Lake District, where Alfred Wainwright worked and lived.

Winning authors across three writing categories will share an increased prize pot of £10,000 to honour the prize’s 10th anniversary.

The prize is sponsored by prestige paper innovator James Cropper, which is based in the Lake District and reaches more than 50 countries.

James Cropper chairman Mark Cropper, who is one of the prize judges, said: “The prize and its authors and books are all about trying to open peoples’ eyes to what is happening in the world.

“Stories shared range from the wondrous to the deeply concerning and often back again, as solutions to many of our deepest challenges are explored.”

This year’s prize ceremony will be the first to be open to the public to watch and the winners be announced live.

Tickets for the ceremony are available from https://tickets.kendalmountainfestival.com.