To highlight how diverse and significant birds and their habitats are, Latvijas valsts meži (LVM) invites primary school pupils to take part in a creative competition and design a sticker based on this year's theme: “Birds in the forest!”

This year, within the framework of the “Birds in the forest” theme, we invite competition participants to look at the forest as a home for various bird species, which often live not only in the treetops but also on the ground. The designers are encouraged to depict their favourite bird species or, for example, to conduct research and discover birds they haven't seen before.

Inspiration can be found by watching the LVM live-stream cameras. Various digital educational materials are also available in the competition section of the LVM website, including episode #2 of the LVM podcast “Dabā gājējs” titled “Large birds”, which is dedicated specifically to the large bird species in state forests.

Submitted designs will be evaluated in two categories – grades 1 to 4 and grades 5 to 9. It should be remembered that the design must fit a circular shape with a diameter of 15 cm. The best work submitted to the competition will be turned into an LVM Forest Day sticker.

“Every year, we receive a great response from pupils, as well as a wide range of chosen creative media. Young artists use digital tools, as well as collage or drawing on paper. There is also variety in the forms of participation, as there are young people who develop work individually, in pairs, or by submitting only one piece of work from the class, which they have nominated in an internal class competition. The number of participants in recent years has been particularly high – more than 1000 creative works are handed over to the jury for evaluation each time,” explains LVM communications specialist Renāte Ribaka.

Winners in both age groups will receive certificates and the exciting activity book “Birds in Latvia”, as well as a paid bus trip for their class to the “Latvian Forest Days”, which will traditionally take place at the end of May next year in the LVM Tērvete Nature Park.

Further information and rules: www.lvm.lv/uzlime