For young creatives aged 7–12
Have you ever wondered what creatures and plants live in and around the River Avon? From beavers and otters to kingfishers, dragonflies and rare aquatic plants, our rivers are full of life!
Some of the amazing wildlife you might see:
- Mammals: beavers, otters, badgers, water voles, shrews, roe deer, bats
- Birds: dippers, kingfishers, grey herons, little egrets, cormorants, moorhens, mallards, peregrine falcons, kestrels, sparrowhawks
- Fish: pike, perch, eels, bream, chub, dace, brown trout, grayling
- Insects: dragonflies and damselflies, including scarce chaser, white-legged damselfly, red-eyed damselfly
- Plants: aquatic plants such as water crowfoot, starwort, yellow water-lily, bogbean, Loddon pondweed, Bristol rock-cress, Bristol onion, and riverbank vegetation such as common club-rush and yellow flag iris
- Rare invertebrates: silky wave moth, hill cuckoo-bee, purse web spider
If any of these creatures or plants inspire you, and you are aged 7–12, enter Transition Bath’s River Avon Art Competition 2026, organised in collaboration with the Wild Waters Festival (6–14 June 2026). Use your creativity to celebrate the vibrant life of animals, birds, insects, and plants in and around our rivers – and show why healthy rivers matter.
The creative challenge
Using any medium you like – paint, crayons, printing, mixed media, or digital art – create an artwork on A4 or A3 paper, portrait or landscape.
Your artwork should:
- Show one or more creatures or plants that live in the River Avon
- Highlight their colours, textures, habits and habitats
- Include a river or detail of a river, but make the wildlife or plantlife the focus
- Feature a bold design, the name of the creature or plant, and a poetic line, for example:
- “AS KINGFISHERS CATCH FIRE, DRAGONFLIES DRAW FLAME” – Gerard Manley Hopkins
- “BENEATH THE GLAZE FISH FLICKER LIKE GREY FLAMES, SILENT, WATCHFUL” – Ted Hughes
Age Categories and Prizes
- Ages 7–12 (as of 30 August 2026)
- Entrants must live in B&NES, Bristol, or Wiltshire
- Prizes will be awarded to winning entries
- All shortlisted entries will be featured on the Transition Bath website and may appear in local exhibitions, online, or in public spaces
How to Enter
- Create your artwork (A4 or A3)
- Take a clear photo or scan
- Email it to: water@transitionbath.org
- Subject line: RIVER AVON ART COMPETITION 2026
- Include: your name, age, school, and a short sentence explaining your idea
Deadline: Monday 1 June 2026
Judging will take place during the Wild Waters Festival (6–14 June), with winners announced shortly after.
Why River Life Matters
Rivers are home to a huge variety of plants, animals, birds, fish, and insects. A healthy river means a healthy ecosystem where creatures can feed, breed, and thrive.
Caring for rivers also keeps them beautiful for people, inspiring wonder, curiosity and creativity. By protecting rivers, we ensure that future generations can enjoy their wildlife and landscapes.
Your artwork can be their voice. Be creative, be bold, and be a River Avon Hero!