Wildlife competition winners announced at festival
Thursday 6th June 2019
The winners of our My Planet Earth – Wildlife in my neighbourhood photography competition have been announced! Judges Cllr Roz Smith and wildlife photographer Ross Mackenzie picked their 12 favourite photos from over 60 entries, and the finalists’ pictures were displayed at Headington Festival last weekend. The wildlife captured on camera in and around Headington included slimy slugs and snails, inquisitive squirrels, dandelions, marching beetles, painted poppies and diving ducks.
Entries came in from children aged 4-11 from all the local schools and the judges were amazed at the quality. Roz said, “We’ve had a fantastic time looking through all the pictures and every one had something good about it, making the judging process quite tricky.” But there had to be some winners, which were:
The winner in the 4-7 age category was Snail in the Grass by Jane Rabusic, age 6, St Francis CE School
The winner in the 8-11 age category was Dandelion by Jaya Reid, aged 11, Windmill Primary School
1st Runner up 4- 7 was Bury Knowle Park Squirrel by Marshall Hall, age 5, Bayards Hill School
1st Runner up 8-11 was Slug Sensation by Ella Johnstone, age 8, St Andrew’s Primary School
2nd Runner up 4-7 was Graffiti on the wall flower by Elliot Kemp, age 7, Windmill Primary School
2nd Runner up 8-11 was Soldier Beetle on a march, Rowan Baker, aged 9, Windmill Primary School
Mayor Mohammed Altaf-Khan awarded prizes to the delighted young photographers at the festival. Prizes included (for the winners) a voucher for a family visit to our new Science Oxford Centre (SOC) this summer, book tokens and a printed copy of their photograph.
Some of the photos from this year and last year’s competition will become part of a display in the new Wood Centre for Innovation at Stansfeld Park in Headington Quarry, which is also home to the SOC.
See all 12 finalists photos below.
Winner of age 4-7 category - Snail in the grass, Jane age 6
“Thank you, he is very sensitive and careful with wildlife and sees the beauty in both beautiful and not so traditionally beautiful creatures.”
“Thanks for the lovely ceremony earlier today, at which our daughter was presented with a certificate and prize, she was absolutely delighted with both.”
“Thank you so much for his lovely book, which he has taken to school, along with his certificate, for show and tell!”
Visit www.headingtonfestival.co.uk for more information about the festival. In partnership with Headington Action
