Lost Words

By Pete Crawford

Director of Learning and Engagement

“Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children...words used to name the natural world”

 Several years ago there was a news story that the Oxford Junior Dictionary was dropping less-used words for ones that were more relevant to children.  Among those cut were ‘acorn’, ‘bluebell’, ‘conker’ and many other words describing wildlife.  In came nouns like ‘broadband’, ‘celebrity’ and ‘voicemail’.  There was an outcry and one outcome was a collaboration between the author Robert McFarlane and the artist Jackie Morris. Their joint work was the Lost Words, a celebration of the natural world, with beautiful, playful drawings accompanying poems calling back some of the lost words.

The John Muir Trust has produced an educational booklet to suggest ways that the Lost Words can be used to support curriculum work in schools, and many teachers have shared their pupils drawings, descriptive writing and outdoors learning through social media.

The book went on to become a best-seller and award winner.  It has been recognised as a fantastic way to engage people of all ages with nature.  However we know that many children will not be lucky enough to see the book. An inspired crowd-funding initiative in Scotland led to copies of the book going to every primary school, and many other counties have followed suit. 

Now it is Sussex’s turn.  We would like to buy every state primary school in Sussex a copy of the Lost Words as an early Christmas present, and to support teachers in inspiring pupils with the book in our mission to support the next generation of young people and make sure they can recognise a skylark, an otter or a willow. We will conclude as we started with a quote from the Lost Words itself.

“By the old strong magic of being spoke aloud, unfold dreams and songs, and sumon lost words back into the mouth and the mind’s eye.”

If you would like to help send a copy of the Lost Words into a local school please click here.