Photographic Competition
Budding photographers are encouraged to capture the
Wonders of the South West's woodlands
Immediate release
Children and adults are invited to take part in a photographic competition being
launched by Plantlife this August to celebrate the woodlands of the South West of
England. Close to the Atlantic ocean, these woodlands are important plants areas internationally recognised hotspots for wild plants - and are a botanical treasure trove
and home to some of the smallest yet most important wild plants in the UK; such as
lichens, mosses and ferns that play a massive role in our lives. These incredible little
plants that often go unnoticed tell us how clean our air is, filter our water, help prevent
flooding, provide shelter for wildlife and over the centuries have been used for
medicinal purposes, to dye wool, silk and even hair! We want people to see for
themselves the wonders hidden within these woodlands and capture what they see on
camera.
Rachel Jones, from Plantlife explains “The woodlands of the South West are close to the Atlantic
Ocean which creates a unique environment, rarely found in the UK - that is often likened to a
tropical rainforest. Rain soaked and humid the woodlands allow lichens, mosses and ferns to flourish
which adds to the captivating scenery. The lichens, mosses and ferns that cloak the woodlands of the
Quantocks for example, fed the imagination of some of the country’s most famous romantic poets
including William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. We hope people will take a closer look
at these woodlands and capture what they see on camera. In doing so they will throw these tiny
lower plants into the spotlight and encourage more people to come and see the wonders of these
woodlands for themselves”
The photography competition is part of Plantlife’s “Make the Small Things Count”
project, which over the next two years, thanks to a grant of £62,000 from the Heritage
Lottery Fund and with financial support from project partners will:




Enable thousands of people to learn more about these exquisite plants, their
importance and heritage.
Offer guidance and training to those who look after the South West’s Atlantic
woodlands which we have an international responsibility to conserve.
Launch a “lichen apprenticeship scheme” to combat the chronic shortage of experts
who can identify survey and monitor these species.
Offer children and families the opportunity to explore the hidden world of lichens,
liverworts, ferns and mosses as part of a series of road shows.
The project will focus on the outstanding landscapes of the Mendip Hills, Quantocks, Exmoor
,Dartmoor and North Devon coast, which are internationally significant for these beautiful and
important plants.
Winners of the photography competition and their guests will be invited to a reception at
Lynmouth Pavilion in April 2015 where the winning images will be shown to the public
for the first time.
-ENDS-
NOTE TO EDITORS
Make the Small Things Count is a new project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund with
financial support from partners including Exmoor National Park Authority, Dartmoor
National Park Authority, the British Lichen Society, Quantocks AONB and North Devon
AONB. Over the next two years we hope that thousands of people will have the
opportunity to learn about the wonderful Atlantic woodlands that are found in Devon
and Somerset and discover their hidden treasures.
For more information please contact: rachel.jones@plantlife.org.uk or call 01722 342730
Full information can be found the wild about plants website:
http://www.wildaboutplants.org.uk/england/projects/make-the-small-things-count/
Entries must be emailed to mailto:wildaboutplants@plantlife.org.uk by Friday 30th
January 2015
Photographers are invited to take their
inspiration from the small wonders of
the south west's wondrous woodlands
Wonders of the South West further information:
First, second and third place winners from each photograph category and age group will
receive a canvas print of their image following the completion of a tour of an exhibition of
their work:
Plantlife invites you to come and see the official exhibition that will be running in 2015 as
follows:
April 2015 – Lynmouth Pavilion, Exmoor National Park
May 2015 – Braunton Countryside Centre, North Devon
June 2015 - Fyne Court, The Quantock Hills, Somerset
September 2015 - February 2016 - National Park Visitor Centre, Princetown,
Dartmoor National Park
There will be additional prizes for first second and third prize winners in all categories.
Judges will be individuals who know the woodlands of the south west the best and will
include National Park and AONB staff as well as volunteers and members of the community
from the project areas.