Swansea local wins poetry competition
Local teaching assistant, Jennifer Stevens, is celebrating after being selected as the winner of McCarthy Stone’s recent poetry competition, which called for Swansea residents to try their hand at writing a poem inspired by nature.
Run by the leading manager and developer of retirement communities behind the Fern Court development in Swansea, the competition encouraged locals to express themselves and be imaginative with their writing, creating a poem on the theme of ‘nature’ to reflect the name of the development on Gower Road.
The competition was judged by Chairwoman of Swansea and District Writer’s Circle, Ann Marie Thomas, who chose Jennifer’s poem entitled “Nature”, as the winning entry.
Jennifer, 31, who was awarded £100 for being chosen as a winner in the competition, says: “I first started writing poetry when I was seven years old, so when I saw the competition being advertised on social media, I was excited at the opportunity to enter.
“Nature is more special to me now than ever. Over the last year, I have grown a deeper appreciation for it, having spent more time getting out and admiring its beauty.
“I really didn’t think I would win so I am really pleased my poem was good enough to be chosen as the winner. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to enter the competition, and even more thankful to have won.”
Chairwoman Ann Marie Thomas comments: “I really loved Jennifer’s poem; it truly evokes nature in all its form and really engages all our senses, which is testament to her writing. Congratulations to Jennifer, and well done to everyone who submitted a poem.”
Nicki Beswarick, Divisional Marketing Manager for McCarthy Stone Southern, comments: “ Here at McCarthy Stone, we recognise that our responsibilities go further than building high-quality retirement apartments we also want to connect with the community as much as possible, which is why we’re really pleased to run competitions like the Swansea poetry contest. All of the entries we received were brilliant, and I’d like to offer our congratulations to Jennifer for winning the competition.”
Nature by Jennifer Stevens
Let me tell you where to find it
It’s the sky, the water and earth
It’s such a wonderful feeling
When you connect with all its worth
It’s the grass that grows beneath us
And the sand between our toes
It’s the sea that washes over
And the breeze that tickles as it blows
It’s the birds that sing and tweet
And the earth beneath our feet
The tallness of the trees
And how they whistle in the wind
The green that’s all around us
And the web the spider spinned
A moonlit sky on a starry night
A crystal blue sky with not a cloud in sight
A white blanket that covers us all
Or crunchy leaves after autumns fall
The sunflower that seeks out the sun
The array of colour after the rain has come
It’s the roar of a lion or the sound of the thunder
That tickles our senses
And makes the brain wonder
The curiosity of all that is around us
And how nature can really ground us
Comprising 45 one and two-bedroom apartments, Fern Court features a spacious homeowners’ lounge, landscaped gardens, and a convenient guest suite for when friends and family come to stay. A House Manager takes care of the smooth-running of the development, while a security entrance system and 24-hour emergency call points provide added peace of mind for homeowners.
Prices at Fern Court currently start from £217,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and from £292,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Rental and part-buy, part-rent options are also available.
More than nine out of 10 customers would recommend McCarthy Stone to a friend, ensuring it has received the full Five Star award for customer satisfaction from the Home Builders Federation for 16 years running. McCarthy Stone is the only UK housebuilder of any size or type to achieve this accolade for 16 consecutive years, which is every year the awards have been run.
McCarthy Stone also received the Housebuilder Special Recognition Award 2020 for working hard to protect its customers – Covid-19 infection rates among homeowners are significantly below the national rate of infection across all age groups – and for innovation in the retirement sector.
Those interested in Retirement Living in Swansea are invited to call 0800 310 0383 to book an appointment, or visit www.mccarthystone.co.uk/ferncourt.
