DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (107/09) issued by
COI News Distribution Service on 7 May 2009
Defra launches
competition to find the Conservation Volunteering photographer of
the Year
Volunteers are being urged to get snapping for a new competition
launched by Defra and Kew Gardens today.
Defra and Kew's International Garden Photographer of the
Year Competition have joined forces to find the first Conservation
Volunteering Photographer of the Year. The competition is launched
today by Defra minister for Wildlife and Conservation Huw Irranca-Davies.
Almost a quarter of a million volunteers are regularly getting
out and about in towns, parks, the countryside and forests to help
conserve our precious natural green spaces and England's
wildlife. To celebrate this work, and to get ready for 2010 as
the International Year of Biodiversity, the photo competition aims
to capture the fun and enjoyment that comes from volunteering and
taking part outside in England.
Mr Irranca-Davies, who was snapped whilst helping to clear the
banks of the Thames with Thames21, said:
"I'd encourage anyone to have a go at conservation
volunteering - you could be doing anything from clearing a pond,
building a dry stone wall or footpath or making a bird house.
While you're out doing your bit, getting some fresh air and
getting active, why not take a photo to capture your experience
and enter it into our competition?
"You don't need to be an expert photographer to take
part - just take a picture that sums up the fun you had helping to
conserve English wildlife or nature"
Debbie Leach, Chief Executive, Thames21 commented:
"What
better way to launch this national competition than on a Thames
foreshore clean-up with Thames21.
"Taking pictures at volunteering events is a great way to
capture the difference being made and for individuals to remember
the valuable contribution that they made.
"We will be encouraging all the 4,000 volunteers we work
with each year to take part in this initiative."
The competition, which launches Defra's MuckIn4Life
campaign, is open to anyone living and undertaking conservation
volunteering in England. There are great prizes of vouchers to be
won in several categories and there will be one overall national
winner and one overall under 16 years winner as well as regional
winners around the country. Winners will also have their photos
displayed in a public exhibition at Kew Gardens.
MuckIn4Life is the Defra campaign which supports the Department
of Health's Change4Life campaign and is supported by a wide
range of environmental stakeholders. It encourages biodiversity
by highlighting the fun and enjoyment which comes from being
active and volunteering outdoors in the fresh air to help conserve
wildlife, landscapes, parks, gardens and other green spaces.
Entries to the competition can be sent in via the Kew
International Garden Photographer of the Year competition (http://www.igpoty.com) and the
competition is open until November 2009. Shortlisted entries will
be announced around Christmas time and the winning photos will be
announced in Spring 2010. The winning photos will form part of
the open air exhibition, showing in outdoor venues around the
country, starting with Kew in the Spring of next year.
Notes to editors:
1. For a photo of Minister Huw Irranca-Davies clearing the banks
of the Thames contact Amanda.waller@defra.gsi.gov.uk or call 0207
238 5608 or 0207 238 5054.
2. Rules: Participants must live and volunteer for conservation
work in England. Entry is free. For a full set of terms and
conditions please go to http://www.igpoty.com/muckinforlife.asp
3. To find out about conservation volunteering near you, please
go to http://www.direct.gov.uk/muckin4life
4. Thames21 is an environmental charity (registered number
1103997) working with communities to bring London's waterways
to life. Working with around 4,000 volunteers every year from all
sections of the community, Thames21 coordinates clean-ups of
waterside grot-spots, graffiti removal and the creation of new
habitats for wildlife. Altogether, around 1,000 tonnes of litter
each year is removed from London's 400 mile network of canals
and rivers.
For more information about Thames21, and about how
to get involved with the work they do, please visit http://www.thames21.org.uk
5. Stakeholders supporting MuckIn4Life are:
* Thames 21
*
The Woodland Trust
* Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds
* The Wildlife Trusts
* British Trust for
Conservation Volunteers
* Forestry Commission England
*
British Trust for Ornithology
* National Trust
* Natural
England
* British Waterways
* Marine Conservation Society
6. The MuckIn4Life prize categories are:
* Overall national
winner - Defra MuckIn4Life conservation volunteering photographer
of the year and two runners up
* Regional winner and runner up
- North East
* Regional winner and runner up - North
West
* Regional winner and runner up - Yorkshire and the
Humber
* Regional winner and runner up - West Midlands
*
Regional winner and runner up - East Midlands
* Regional
winner and runner up - East of England
* Regional winner and
runner up - London
* Regional winner and runner up - South
East
* Regional winner and runner up - South West
*
Overall national under-16 years winner and two runners up
*
Regional winner and runner up - North East
* Regional winner
and runner up - North West
* Regional winner and runner up -
Yorkshire and the Humber
* Regional winner and runner up -
West Midlands
* Regional winner and runner up - East
Midlands
* Regional winner and runner up - East of
England
* Regional winner and runner up - London
*
Regional winner and runner up - South East
* Regional winner
and runner up - South West
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on
our website
http://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development
To subscribe
or unsubscribe to Defra's mailing list go to:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk
Once on the NDS website see Sign up
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Website
http://www.defra.gov.uk