Thames21 urge you to get snapping for Defra's Conservation Volunteering Photographer of the Year competition.

Thursday 7 May 2009
Volunteers are being urged to get snapping for a new competition launched by Defra and Kew Gardens today.

Defra and Kew’s International Garden Photographer of the Year Competition have joined forces to find the first Conservation Volunteering Photographer of the Year. The competition is launched today by Defra minister for Wildlife and Conservation Huw Irranca-Davies.

Almost a quarter of a million volunteers are regularly getting out and about in towns, parks, the countryside and forests to help conserve our precious natural green spaces and England’s wildlife.  To celebrate this work, and to get ready for 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity, the photo competition aims to capture the fun and enjoyment that comes from volunteering and taking part outside in England. 

Mr Irranca-Davies, who was snapped whilst helping to clear the banks of the Thames with Thames21, said:

“I’d encourage anyone to have a go at conservation volunteering – you could be doing anything from clearing a pond, building a dry stone wall or footpath or making a bird house.  While you’re out doing your bit, getting some fresh air and getting active, why not take a photo to capture your experience and enter it into our competition?

“You don’t need to be an expert photographer to take part - just take a picture that sums up the fun you had helping to conserve English wildlife or nature”

Debbie Leach, Chief Executive, Thames21 commented:
“What better way to launch this national competition than on a Thames foreshore clean-up with Thames21.

“Taking pictures at volunteering events is a great way to capture the difference being made and for individuals to remember the valuable contribution that they made.

“We will be encouraging all the 4,000 volunteers we work with each year to take part in this initiative.”

The competition, which launches Defra’s MuckIn4Life campaign, is open to anyone living and undertaking conservation volunteering in England.  There are great prizes of vouchers to be won in several categories and there will be one overall national winner and one overall under 16 years winner as well as regional winners around the country.  Winners will also have their photos displayed in a public exhibition at Kew Gardens.

MuckIn4Life is the Defra campaign which supports the Department of Health’s Change4Life campaign and is supported by a wide range of environmental stakeholders.  It encourages biodiversity by highlighting the fun and enjoyment which comes from being active and volunteering outdoors in the fresh air to help conserve wildlife, landscapes, parks, gardens and other green spaces.

Entries to the competition can be sent in via the Kew International Garden Photographer of the Year competition (www.igpoty.com) and the competition is open until November 2009.  Shortlisted entries will be announced around Christmas time and the winning photos will be announced in Spring 2010.  The winning photos will form part of the open air exhibition, showing in outdoor venues around the country, starting with Kew in the Spring of next year.

Notes to editors:

• Rules: Participants must live and volunteer for conservation work in England.  Entry is free. For a full set of terms and conditions please go to http://www.igpoty.com/muckinforlife.asp
• To find out about conservation volunteering near you, please go to www.direct.gov.uk/muckin4life
• Thames21 is an environmental charity (registered number 1103997) working with communities to bring London's waterways to life. Working with around 4,000 volunteers every year from all sections of the community, Thames21 coordinates clean-ups of waterside grot-spots, graffiti removal and the creation of new habitats for wildlife. Altogether, around 1,000 tonnes of litter each year is removed from London’s 400 mile network of canals and rivers.

For more information about Thames21, and about how to get involved with the work they do, please visit www.thames21.org.uk

• Stakeholders supporting MuckIn4Life are:
• Thames 21
• The Woodland Trust
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• The Wildlife Trusts
• British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
• Forestry Commission England
• British Trust for Ornithology
• National Trust
• Natural England
• British Waterways
• Marine Conservation Society

• The MuckIn4Life prize categories are:
• Overall national winner – Defra MuckIn4Life conservation volunteering photographer of the year and two runners up
• Regional winner and runner up – North East
• Regional winner and runner up – North West
• Regional winner and runner up – Yorkshire and the Humber
• Regional winner and runner up – West Midlands
• Regional winner and runner up – East Midlands
• Regional winner and runner up – East of England
• Regional winner and runner up - London
• Regional winner and runner up – South East
• Regional winner and runner up – South West
• Overall national under-16 years winner and two runners up
• Regional winner and runner up – North East
• Regional winner and runner up – North West
• Regional winner and runner up – Yorkshire and the Humber
• Regional winner and runner up – West Midlands
• Regional winner and runner up – East Midlands
• Regional winner and runner up – East of England
• Regional winner and runner up - London
• Regional winner and runner up – South East
• Regional winner and runner up – South West

Defra press enquiries 020 7238 5608; Public enquiries 08459 335577;

Thames21 press enquiries 020 7213 0166