Poetry SchoolJane Lovell has been shortlisted for this year’s Laurel Prize 2026! Read more about her and her poem ‘Gyrfalcon’ from her collection Tipping Point.
About Jane
Winner of the Ginkgo Prize, Jane Lovell explores the shifting relationship between people and the natural world. Her latest collection, Tipping Point, draws on polar exploration, ancestral traditions and ecological change. She lives on the edge of the Valley of Rocks in North Devon and writes extensively about Exmoor’s landscapes and wildlife.
On being nominated
Being shortlisted for the Laurel Prize is genuinely thrilling. Tipping Point is a collection that took many years to write and having it recognised in this way means a great deal to me. I feel very strongly about the natural world and the challenges it faces. Through my poetry, I hope to draw attention to what is happening while also celebrating the Earth’s beauty and resilience, reminding people of what we stand to lose.
On ‘Gyrfalcon’
I’ve long been fascinated by the Arctic and its haunting stories of exploration and survival, its strange light and shifting landscapes, and the wildlife that exists in such extreme conditions.
‘Gyrfalcon’ began when I came across research into ancient nesting sites in Greenland, some used for over a thousand years. I was struck by the idea of the bones of a hare surviving beneath centuries of moss and guano, holding a record of a world that is now disappearing.
The poem moves from a hare hunted five centuries ago to the remains of a gyrfalcon lying hunched in the watery ice of a future Arctic. I think focusing on the fate of a single creature can sometimes have more emotional impact than looking at the bigger picture.
Gyrfalcons depend on Arctic prey such as ptarmigan and hare. A warming climate is changing the conditions they need to survive. I wanted the poem to hold those five centuries against the speed of what is happening now and let that contrast speak for itself.
This year’s Laurel Prize winner will be announced on Friday 25 September at a special event as part of BBC Contains Strong Language.
Ceremony Date: Friday 25 September 2026
Location: BBC Philharmonic Studio, MediaCity, Salford, M50 2EQ
Time: 7.00 – 8.30pm
The ceremony will feature readings and discussion with the shortlisted poets on a panel chaired by Professor of Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University, Helen Mort. The event will culminate with the live announcement of this year’s winning writer. This event is free to attend but you must book your place:
The full line up for the Contains Strong Language weekend can be found here. There will also be two Laurel workshops run by the Poetry School over the weekend:
Writing the Quays with Sammy Weaver
Saturday 26 September, 11am-1pm, University of Salford
Join award-winning poet and narrowboat dweller, Sammy Weaver, for this 2-hour poetry and walking workshop exploring the Salford Quays. BOOK HERE.
As Easily as Leaves to a Tree: A Workshop in Negative Capability with David Morley
Saturday 26 September, 2pm-4pm, University of Salford
Laurel Prize Chair of Judges David Morley leads a 2 hour generative writing workshop exploring ‘negative capability’ as a practical method for writing poetry. BOOK HERE.
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