The winning picture of the adult category of a sitting toad - by Paul Harwood
THE winners of the 2019 Julian Gardner Awards have been announced.
Organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), the amateur photography competition saw hundreds of stunning pictures submitted in its seventh year.
Paul Harwood’s spectacular close-up picture of a toad won him first place in the adult category, and he said: “I’m thrilled to bits not only for achieving first place but to have caught, what I think, was a unique moment in nature.”
Runner-up was Steve Layton with his picture of foxes at play and in third place was Sally Johnston’s shot of a combine harvester.
Champion of the junior category is 15-year-old Katy Read, who captured a dunnock while bathing in the rain, below.
“I'm very glad that the judges liked this picture of a dunnock in a birdbath in the rain. It's a real shame that common garden birds often get overlooked. People seem to know more about exotic species than the ones they see every day,” said Katy.
Both winners will be rewarded with a trophy and a large print of their photograph as well as seeing it published on GWCT’s website and in its membership magazine, Gamewise.
The photographic competition, which has an adult and junior section, launched six years ago in memory of Julian Gardner, a Sussex farmer and lifelong supporter of the GWCT who was tragically killed while defending his property in October 2010.
The range of pictures, capturing the UK countryside, various habitats and landscape, were judged by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) panel.
Press and publications manager James Swyer was impressed with the variety of pictures entered this year.
“After a bumper amount of entries, the real highlight was the wide selection of nature on show. It’s great to see what people are passionate about in the countryside," he said.
“In the end, Paul’s and Katy’s pictures came out on top for composition, originality and technical ability. They are deserved winners.
“A big thank you to everyone who entered and made the competition fantastic to judge.”
Entries are re-open for next year, for the all the details visit https://www.gwct.org.uk/wildlife/julian-gardner-awards/enter/
Notes to editors
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust – providing research-led conservation for a thriving countryside. The GWCT is an independent wildlife conservation charity which has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.
For information, contact:
Eleanor Williams
Telephone: 07592 025476
Email: press@gwct.org.uk