Young people’s green photos in Euro contest

Youngsters across Southend and Rochford are to test their photographic skills for a Euro-wide "Big Picture" competition.

The Big Picture, sponsored in south east Essex by Olympus Cameras, invites children and young people to take photos of their local green spaces, showing the diversity of plant life, animals, insects and facilities they find there.

This project, being launched simultaneously in The Netherlands and Belgium – as well as in Southend and Rochford – is open all young people up to 18 years old. Winners will click for prizes of the latest Olympus Cameras together with one additional camera presented to the school or college where one overall winner is educated.

The closing date for entries is Wednesday 1st June but all the competing photos can be seen on display prior to judging, on www.urbanhabitats.co.uk.

The Big Picture competition is part of an EU-funded partnership to foster an appreciation of all our green spaces, particularly those in Urban Habitats, close to towns and cities, which have become increasingly under threat. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), the Rotterdam Water Board and the Flemish Land Agency, are the key partners in the initiative which is being further supported by Rochford District Council.

The Big Picture is open to schoolchildren aged from five to 18. In Southend and Rochford, pupils from every school within the boundaries of both Councils are eligible to enter. Prizes will be presented in three categories: five to ten year-olds; 11 to 14-year-olds; and 15 to 18-year-olds.

Entry forms are available from http://bigpicture.cfanewmedia.co.uk

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Parks Technical Officer, Paul Jenkinson said: “We urge as many young people as possible in Southend and Rochford to take part in this thoroughly exciting competition. They can take pictures of any local park, seafront area or other open space within the boundaries of Southend and Rochford - these all count as green spaces. Judges will look for images reflecting the character of each open space. It could include animal insect or plant life, leisure facilities such as playgrounds and restaurants or simply an overview.”