Local scenic spots at Strathclyde Loch, New Lanark and Mauldslie Woods were amongst the focal points chosen for six winning images in the Clyde and Avon Valley spring photo competition.

A heron and its reflection in the River Clyde, the weir at Strathclyde Loch, the River Clyde at New Lanark, evening sunlight streaming through trees at Mauldslie Woods and Clyde Valley orchard blossom, by Alison Alder (Stonehouse), Charlotte Edgar (West Linton), Bryan Frame (Douglas) and Susan West (Nemphlar), were the five winning images across the categories of Geology, Industrial Heritage, Orchards, Wildlife and Woodlands, selected from over 100 entries.

11 year old Lucy West (Nemphlar), scooped the prize for the under 16’s category, with her image of duck and ducklings. This is her second win in a row, following her success in the winter competition.

Subsequent seasonal photo competitions will have categories for amateur, professional and under 16’s entries.

The images were picked by the Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP) team with the assistance of Crawford based Archibald Photography Ltd, and framed copies of the winning entries were awarded to their owners at the CAVLP Offices in New Lanark on Thursday 16 June.

“The Clyde and Avon Valley bursts into colour and birdsong in spring,” says Sarah O’Sullivan, Communications Officer for CAVLP. “The 103 entries to the competition are a fantastic representation of the many different facets of the landscape in spring, from industrial heritage, to geology and wildlife. We can’t wait to see the results of the summer amateur, professional and under 16’s entries.”

Summer entries to the competition can now be submitted under the themes of Agriculture and Horticulture, Built Heritage, Play, Wildlife and Woodlands, until Wednesday 31 August.

Each winning photographer wins a framed print of their photograph and submitted images may be selected for display in Clyde and Avon valleys exhibitions, postcards and digital interpretation of the area on the CAVLP website, alongside credit to the original photographer.

Summer entries should be submitted to CAVLP by Wednesday 31 August 2016 at midnight. As well as receiving framed prints of their winning images, summer winners will join the previous autumn, winter and spring winners in a draw for best overall images of the whole year, which will take place this coming September.

Photographs should be taken in or around the Area of Great Landscape Value which follows the Clyde and Avon valleys from just south of Hamilton to New Lanark and Strathaven respectively. A map outlining the boundary is available in the competition guidelines, available on the CAVLP website, www.clydeandavonvalley.org. The area is well known for attractions such as Chatelherault Country Park and New Lanark World Heritage Site but there are many, more hidden features of the landscape that tell an equally important part of the area’s story.

Open to all ages and photographic abilities, entries are judged on creativity and individuality as much as technical skill, with amateur, professional and under 16’s categories.

“We’re pleased that so many people have entered the photo competition so far,” says Donna Marshall, Manager of CAVLP.  “We’re really looking forward to seeing what summer vistas will be included in this latest round, which completes a whole year of the seasonal competition.”

Photographs can be entered in a digital format to info@clydeandavonvalley.com or in print format to: David Dale’s House, Rosedale Street, New Lanark, ML11 9DJ.

To see all of the spring entries, please visit the gallery on the CAVLP Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ClydeandAvonValleyLandscapePartnership

For full information on the competition, visit www.clydeandavonvalley.com/news or email info@clydeandavonvalley.com.

Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership
www.clydeandavonvalley.org