Welcome to the British Haiku Society

	The British Haiku Society was founded in 1990. We are a registered charity in the UK No. 1002064
	The BHS is pioneering the appreciation and writing of haiku in the UK, and has links also with similar organisations throughout the world.
	There are currently approx. 300 members, four-fifths of whom live in the UK. To apply, see membership.
	Members receive for their subscriptions the Society journal, Blithe Spirit, a newsletter called The Brief, a Members Address List, use of the Society's library (postal loans possible), various other occasional papers, and a vote at the AGM and biennial committee elections. Periodically members receive invitations to specially organised events, such as discussion groups, workshops and haiku walks, with a national conference held every year. There is also a members-only on-line Discussion Forum at Yahoo Groups

	We also publish books concerning haiku and related matters. See bookshop for more information.
	We are active in promoting the teaching of haiku in schools and colleges, and able to provide readers/course and workshop leaders/speakers for poetry groups, etc. We have also created a haiku teaching/learning kit for schools (go to bookshop to order this).
	We administer the prestigious annual James W Hackett International Haiku Award and our own Annual British Haiku Society Haibun Anthology (formerly the Nobuyuki Yuasa Annual International Award for Haibun). See competitions for more information.
	Our efforts in the fields of literature and education were recognised in 1996 by a Japan Festival Award (second place in tandem with Sadlers Wells Opera) the first prize being won by the British Museum. In 2008 our journal Blithe Spirit achieved fifth place (from 175 magazines considered) in the International Network & Community of Writers (Incwriters) Outstanding Contributions to Literature (Magazines) Award.