The Friends of the Trap Grounds are a local group who work in partnership with Oxford City Council to manage this beautiful site for conservation, recreation, and education.
Children from Year 1, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 took part in the competition. They were asked to select one of the stunning photographs from the Trap Grounds’ 2020 calendar to use as inspiration for a short piece of writing. Here are some examples of the pictures they chose:
Across the school, there was a high standard of writing and it was very difficult for the judges to choose the winners and runners up from each year group category. Well done to everyone who took part!
The winners and runners up for each age category are as follows:
Year 1. First prize: Alice G. Runner-up: Daniel P-S.
Year 4. First prize: Rahel E-D. Runner-up: Zoe K
Year 5. First prize: Noa O-W. Runner-up: Yanxi F.
Year 6. First prize: Milo D. Runner-up: Zara A.
The Year 6 winners will receive their prizes before the end of term. For Years 1, 4 and 5, the prizes will be presented in a celebration assembly during the autumn term.
We hope you enjoy reading the children’s wonderful writing below. Congratulations to all of you!
Year 1
If you are quiet just for a moment you might hear swans honking for their little signets. You may see them dancing elegantly round the water’s edge making ripples along the water. You will smell that gooey smell of plants and water – yuk! You will feel calmer or you may thank God. What lovely swans…..beautiful. You will only see a dash of their long, long orange beaks.
By Alice G
If you are quiet for just a moment you might see his eyes staring back at you. If you are quiet for just a moment you can see gooey, gooey mud. If you are quiet for just a moment the very soft dandelions. If you are quiet for just a moment you can hear the water trickling down the freezing water fall. If you are quiet for just a moment you can taste the sour wind.
By Daniel P-S
Year 4
SILENCE!
A rustle in the bushes breaks the peaceful tranquillity.
A quick flash of red shows amongst the leafy hedgerows.
Silence.
Something stirs as the birds rise, cawing from their nests.
The autumn leaves shatter beneath the fox’s feet.
In the fading light, his cunning eye watches a frightened, scuttling mouse.
The cruel wind sweeps up the dust left from summer.
He can smell the wonderful wood smoke wafting through the trees.
“What’s that?” he wonders as he pats towards the wondrous smell.
Hear that sizzling sound? That means sausages.
He scampers into a busy camp.
“Argh!” the children scream! “A BEAST!”
“Stay close,” warn the adults.
“I’m just a harmless fox!” the animal thinks.
“All I want is a large, juicy sausage!”
He picks one up and as the juice dribbles down his chin, he pats into the hazy distance.
By Rahel E-D
Man or Mouse?
Hide, hide, stay inside
The fox is on the prowl tonight
Run,run,run away
Fox is on the prowl and I’m his prey
But wait, no, stop right there
Fox is a billy and I’m not scared
Hello little mouse, but why so hasty?
Let me come closer because you look tasty
I’m not scared and this is my house
You’ll soon find out if I’m a man or a mouse
Yum, yum, this is fun
Should I eat you now, or should we go for a run?
Squeak
By Zoe Kempshall
Year 5
The snowdrops hang tiredly off their stems after using lots of energy breaking through the thin layer of snow that’s settled on the Trap Grounds in late winter. Their bright, white colour matches almost exactly the frost in the crisp winter morning. They are the very first flowers after the chilly season is over. They are the encouragement for all flowers through the whole year, as one of the most beautiful of all. So be the encouragement for the people around you, and you will be the most beautiful of all as well.
By Noa O-W
The Creature of the Trap Grounds
Far cold wind blew over millions of reeds,
Leaning shadow against bright moonlight,
Sinister presence, twitching nose,
Two ferocious eyes gleaming through rustling reeds,
Long dragging tail to pointed ears,
Restless legs to red, soft fur,
Ready to bounce into desolate night.
By Yanxi F
Year 6
The Trap Ground Fox
(based on the Highway Man by Alfred Noyes)
The rain was a river of wetness among the gusty trees.
The moon was a puppet show in the sky.
The railway was a streak of thunder.
But the Trap Ground fox came pouncing,
Pouncing,
Pouncing,
The Trap Ground fox came pouncing, scaring its prey away.
He’d two moonshard pointy ears,
A bunch of lace at his chin,
A coat of orange sunlight,
A dreamy chainsaw tail,
He stood out with his silky touch,
His boots were midnight black,
He pounced with a delicate pirouette,
The dead tree creeper hanging from its mouth, silencing the sky.
By Milo D
The Early Bird Catches the Worm
Congratulations to me! I’ve done it. I have managed to wake up before the rest of the family.
Now is my chance to test this theory, does, ‘the early bird really catch the best worms’?
Tiptoe, tiptoe….. Gently, silently I walk into the daybreak. How magical the Trap Grounds are at this early hour. So pristine and untouched. So peaceful and alive.
The delicate dew drops dance on the leaves and appear like ponds for the dragonflies to bathe in. The air is moist with dawn freshness.
They were right; this is absolutely worth the 30 minutes less kip.
I’m going to surprise the family with a breakfast banquet of plump, juicy worms.
There’s one. A wriggling, jiggling, chubby one, almost as if he is waiting for me to pick him. What a pleasant experience.
I’ll meander through the lovely paths of the Terrific Trap Grounds, visiting the Fairy Doors along the way, as I collect wriggly worms for our Fantastical Feast.
Yes, I have to agree, there is very much truth in that old adage.
By Zara A