Bright fungi and calm ducks win ARK’s Stonebridge Meadow photographic competition

A startling close-up of fungi growing on a dead tree in Stonebridge Meadow has won the adult category in Action for the River Kennet’s summer competition for photographs taken in the Meadow.  It was one of 49 photographs submitted to be judged by Peter Marren (local wildlife author and ARK’s Ecological Adviser) and the competition’s organiser, Anna Forbes.

Almost every conceivable aspect of the Meadow’s fauna and flora was included in the entries and the winning fungi was quite a popular subject.  But the winning shot by Allison Burden was judged as being far and away the best.  Ms Burden moved to Marlborough this summer – and has taken her children to several of ARK’s Discover Stonebridge events.

She works for an international aid organisation and was abroad when the results were announced, the prizes were handed out and her photograph took pride of place in the display of winning shots in St Peter’s Church.  The display can be seen there between 10.00am and 4.30pm until Saturday (September 20.)

Second in the adult section was Kim Wise’s monochrome photograph of two young children messing around in the river – without boats.  Kim Wise, from the Wellington Arms, told Marlborough News Online: “Photography is my outlet from work.”  And she loves taking photographs in the Meadow: “It’s a fantastic little retreat in the middle of Marlborough.”

She took the shot in colour, but turned it into black and white because it showed the light better and emphasised the children more.  The change has certainly given the photo a timeless look.  [See below for Kim Wise’s photo and those entered by the other winners.]

There were a number of really good entries in the under fifteen category and first and second places went to bird photographs.  This category was won by Wendy Lin’s shot of ducks on the River Kennet – it is a photograph that gives a strong atmosphere of the stillness of the river as it is ruffled by the family of mallards.

Second place in this category went to Dominic Greenbank’s close-up of a wary-eyed robin perching on a branch.  The family were filling some of the meadow’s bird-feeders when Dominic spotted the robin and took the photograph – which may yet end up as the family’s Christmas card.

Katie Fern was highly commended by the judges for her photograph of a heron standing on a log at the river’s edge.  Katie, who is studying childcare at New College in Swindon, was taking her gran’s dog for a walk in the Meadow when she saw the heron.

Urging the dog to be quiet, she tied it up and went as close as she could to heron.  It looks very much as though her grandmother’s footsteps approach to the bird was just about to be rumbled – there’s a very suspicious look in the heron’s eye that gives the photo a wonderful central point of interest. Motto: if you are a photopgrapher always take your camera – even if you are just walking the dog and especially if you are walking beside the River Kennet.