Dara McAnulty

Dara McAnulty is the teenage author of Diary of a Young Naturalist, his critically acclaimed debut work of non-fiction. Written in poetic prose, his diary explores his deep relationship with nature alongside campaigning work and the everyday challenges and joys of being autistic. It was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, won the Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing 2020 – making Dara the youngest ever winner of a major literary prize. Other awards include the An Post Irish Book Award for Newcomer of the Year 2020, Books Are My Bag Readers Award for Non-fiction 2020, and he was also shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year 2020.

Dara is a prolific environmental campaigner and has worked with Chris Packham, the Royal Society Protection of Birds, National Trust and the Wildlife Trusts. He is an ambassador for the RSPCA and the Jane Goodall Institute.