Environment Platform Wales has announced the final winners of their Uplands-themed Photography Competition. The Platform, representing all eight Welsh Universities, Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology will this year focus on the resilience of Upland areas at its annual ‘Environment Evidence’ conference this September.
The competition was launched ahead of the conference, which was due to take place at Aberystwyth University, but will now be streamed and hosted online from September 14th. The photography competition theme: ‘Past, present and future’, aims to highlight the existing and future challenges facing Welsh Uplands.
The competition’s four categories were chosen to reflect the complexity and variety of landscapes, people, communities, wildlife and way of life in the Uplands and entries were received from all over Wales – with many from those who’ve visited Wales over the years as either returning tourists, day trippers or workers.
The competition winners and prize winners are as follows:
Category Winners
Landscape: Robert (Rob) Miller – Milky Way over Ogwen Valley
People: Dr Emyr Roberts – Owie Bryn Eithin
Animals/Livestock: Bradley Carr – Cygnets at Brecon Canal
18 and Under: Seren Friel (Ysgol Cwm Rhondda) – Friends & Family, Llanwonno
Highly Commended
Tamás Kolossa – Orange hills & layers, North Wales
Jon Moorby – Alpacas in an upland landscape, the future?
Environment Platform Wales’ Director, Dr Jenny Geroni said:
“Representing more than 80% of Wales’ landmass, Upland areas are particularly vulnerable to the challenges presented by COVID-19, Brexit and Climate Change. Our competition and conference are even more important this year in that they highlight the urgency and scale of the task ahead. As you’ll see from the stunning entries we’ve received, these landscapes and communities demonstrate the beauty, richness and abundance within the Welsh Uplands. But to secure their future resilience, we need to work together to get a clear picture of how we can ensure that they continue to thrive.
“This September, we’ll be bringing together thought leaders, researchers and experts in the field to look at the evidence available to make this happen. This photography competition really is a love-letter – a tribute to remind us all of what’s at stake. We had 95 entries in all, and judging was incredibly difficult, but I think you’ll agree that the winners all helped to tell the story of the Uplands. Well done to all the winners and our two ‘Highly Commended’ photographers, too!”
The Welsh Uplands Conference: Resilience of the Welsh Uplands – an Evidence Perspective takes place online 14-18th September. Full Access All Areas Delegate Access is Available for just £50 and students can join the event for £25.
