Hedgerows Ireland and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association are delighted to be running our Hedgerow Photography Competition for a second year.
Our native hedgerows are one of our most important landscape features, supporting 95% of the wildlife in our farmed countryside, as well as providing a range of other services. These include shelter, shade, flood and drought reduction, nutrient buffering, and very significant carbon storage.
Photo Credit Claire Butler Hastings
Hedgerows Ireland is a national body dedicated to all aspects of hedgerow welfare. Following last year's successful competition we are relaunching the contest to encourage interest and pride in this important feature of our natural and cultural heritage.
We are delighted that the ICMSA, one of Ireland's largest farming organisations, is sponsoring the generous prizes once more.(First prize 500 euro, Second prize 250 euro and Third prize 125 euro in each of the two age categories, under and over 18's)
We want you to send us a photo that highlights some aspects of our late summer/autumn hedgerows. This could be of a length of hedgerow showing off its shape and overall appearance, or a photo of a plant, bird, mammal, insect, or some other feature which illustrates hedgerow wildlife.
Your photo could be a composite of different images in one single picture... We are excited to see what catches your eye! Last year the judges were particularly impressed by images of hedges with trees, ancient hedges and hedges with berries, nuts and with healthy verges, as well as the insects, birds and mammals that live in them..
Good luck!