Magic of maples haiku competition

When autumn arrives at Westonbirt, over 2,000 maples reveal a spectacular show of colour. Join us in capturing the magic of maples through the elegance of a haiku.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer, a curious beginner, or a young poet seeing the arboretum with fresh eyes, we’d love you to join in. In partnership with the British Haiku Society, we’re celebrating the power of a few well‑chosen words to bring a moment of nature to life.

Discover our work with maples.

How to Take Part

Who can enter?

Everyone! We welcome poets of all ages from anywhere in the world, with two categories:

• under 18s (youth)
• over 18s (adult)

What to write?

Up to two original haiku or senryu inspired by the magic of maples.
They don’t need to follow the traditional 5–7–5 pattern, just capture a real moment, a feeling, or a spark of wonder.

Find out more

When?

Open for entries: 1 March – 31 March 2026 (midnight)

How to submit

Enter via our online form.
If you write in another language, simply include an English translation too.

Before entering please ensure you have read the competition terms and conditions.

Enter here

Recognition of selected haiku

A panel of international haiku experts will select winning and commended poems in both adult and youth categories.

Prizes include:

• the top five from each category will be specially printed to be part of an exhibition
• display of selected haiku at Westonbirt during autumn 2026 as part of our autumn onsite campaign, seen by over 100,000 people
• features on our website, social media, and the British Haiku Society channels
• a certificate of recognition 

Your words could become part of the Westonbirt experience for thousands of visitors!

Judges

UK - Andrew Shimield
Canada - Lev Hart
Japan - Emiko Miyashita

For full details, including judging, guidelines and data protection, please see our Terms & Conditions page.

Inspiration 

Need a little inspiration? Discover an autumn video and images below and let Westonbirt’s seasonal magic guide your haiku.