ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Alice Woodhams from Milverton Primary School is the proud owner of an impressive Celstron telescope for her poem which was the ten and under winner at last year’s Exmoor Dark Skies Festival poetry competition.

Katrina Munro who organises the festival for Exmoor National Park Authority said: “Alice is now enjoying watching planets and finding constellations.

“We’ve got another Celestron telescope to give away this year. Through learning about space and participating in events, people are encouraged to understand the importance of the darkness and tranquillity on Exmoor and help us keep light pollution to a minimum.”

Alice’s winning poem

The sky is a jewels-encrusted midnight coat,

With stars like pearls and diamonds,

The moon is a crescent button

Gleaming for the sun.

Mars and Mercury are beautiful rubies,

While Saturn is an emerald.

And as I look up from the dusty moors,

I wonder if we are we all alone,

In this beauty of a universe.

Or if there are others out there,

Just like me

Or you.

In the 11-16 age group first place was awarded to Al Pascall, who won a special astrophotogrpahy book.

Al’s poem:

Stars over Wimbleball

A lake holds a million gems

Jewels reflected from the night sky

Bright against the darkness

The water breaking on the shore

Distorts pinpricks of light

Overhead the sun’s twin sister hides

Covered, momentarily, by a black wisp

Across the water a beam of light cuts the darkness

Framing an energetic puppy dancing in the starlight

Standing by Wimbleball

Holding onto this moment

First prize in the 17-99 age group went to Francesca Brosan who won a hamper supplied by the festival sponsors SBA CiC.

Francesca’s poem:

The knowledge of the stars

What do I know about the stars?

Nothing.

I only know how my daughters move about the earth

Peopling my universe with their laughter

How sometimes we lie together in a field

And watch the heavens for meteorites.

What do I know about the stars?

Nothing.

But I have learned to draw the line from Plough to Pole

And I have learned that they implode

When all the outside pressure becomes too much

How they create a tight neat ball of self-consuming flame

Surrounded by a veil of light.

What do I know about the stars?

Nothing.

But I know their presence gives a pause

A second in a timeless void to breathe

And in my animal-self to know my light travels on

Perpetual incandescence in other veins

As I have the light of a million stars

Contained in me.

What do I know about the stars?

Everything.

Second places in each category were awarded as follows: 10 and under: Holly Henderson, 11-16 age group: Cara Hawkins, ages 17-99: Anu Anand.

All the winning poems can be read on www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/darkskiesfestival

Katrina said that this year’s Exmoor Dark Skies Festival, which can attract over 2,000 people, will run from October 13-19, and will include a star baker competition, astro-themed cycle and walking trails and a night mountain-biking event.

Exmoor residents and visitors are being encouraged to count the stars in this February’s citizen science project run by CPRE the countryside charity.

Full details of all stargazing and dark skies events on Exmoor can be found at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/stargazing .