As the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, The Woodland Trust is the leading voice for woods and trees. They campaign to protect precious ancient woods, restore the ones that are damaged and fight for those under threat. They create new native woodland around the UK with the help of communities, schools, organisations and individuals. The Woodland Trust inspires people up and down the country to visit woods, plant trees, treasure wildlife, and enjoy the overwhelming benefits that woods and trees offer to our landscape and lives.
In May, The charity teamed up with Yorkshire Tea to launch the “Say Trees”! photography competition, and encouraged families to visit their nearest wood and get snapping.
Just 13 per cent of the UK is covered by woodland, which is one of the lowest amounts in the whole of Europe. The charity hopes to reconnect people with the great outdoors and remind them why it’s so special. This competition was a great way to encourage people to get outdoors and experience woodland areas. The Yorkshire Tree campaign will see one million trees planted over the next five years, and half of those will be through the Woodland Trust here in the UK. Through this, the Woodland Trust and Yorkshire Tea hope to educate the next generation on the importance of trees and encourage them to care about the same environmental issues as people like I do.
The photography competition was open to all ages and abilities and the organisation was looking for entries which capture the spirit of family fun out in woods and trees. They had over 1,500 photographs submitted, bringing out the true spirit of family fun in our woods and trees.
Prize Hamper!
Once the competition closing date had passed, a team of experts at the Woodland Trust squirrelled away and said it was really difficult to pick a winner from all the stunning snaps, but their judges eventually picked a winner. Although I didn’t win first prize, I’m delighted to announce I was one of the 3 Runners-Up with my shot of Harrison enjoying the bluebells at Hagbourne Copse in West Swindon. I’m also thrilled to have received my runner-up prize; a beautiful hamper full of ‘Gruffalo Goodies’ and Yorkshire Tea, courtesy of Taylors Of Harrogate. Also in the hamper was a nice voucher to spend at Betty’s Café Tea Rooms as well. I’ve never been there before, but now I’ll have to plan a visit!
As for the Gruffalo Goodies, well I think Harrison will look forward to enjoying them just as much as I will!
