Imagination, a love of local wildlife, and a camera are all you need to take part in a new photography competition organised by Cambridge University Zoology Museum.

The ‘Fens Through A Lens’ competition, which is open to amateur photographers of all ages, is aimed at capturing the special beauty of local fenland nature reserves and their wildlife.

Individual prizes will be presented for the best photographs, including personal tours of nature reserves, a behind-the-scenes look at the Zoology Museum, and copies of Chris Gomersall’s latest DVD, Go Wild with your Camera.

Winners will also have their work included in a special ‘Fens Through A Lens’ exhibition, which will be displayed this autumn by the University and will then go on show throughout the region.

Competition judges will include award-winning wildlife photographer Chris Gomersall, whose exhibition ‘Wild East’, which features photographs of East Anglian wildlife, including rare birds such as cranes and bitterns, is currently on display at the Museum.

Gomersall was staff photographer for the RSPB for 14 years, as well as chief photographer and arts editor for Birds Britannica, a monumental, species-by-species study of all Britain’s birds.

He said: “We have a wealth of fantastic wildlife on our doorstep and I am delighted to be part of this project to encourage people to get out and explore it for themselves.”

An abundance of fenland wildlife can be found at nature reserves run by the competition’s co-sponsors. The RSPB and Wildlife Trust have been working at a number of locations, including Fen Drayton Lakes, the Ouse Washes, and the Great Fen project at Woodwalton and Holme Fens to reverse four centuries of damage to the fenland environment.

Helen Moore, Education and Community Officer with the Wildlife Trust said: “The Wildlife Trust is delighted to encourage people to go out with their cameras and experience the wonders of fen landscape and wildlife. We are particularly keen to receive entries from children and young people and will be awarding prizes in a number of age groups.”

A number of workshops linked to the competition will be taking place over the next few months. Photographer Roger Slade will be holding sessions at Fen Drayton Lakes on 6 April and Lakenheath Fen on 14 June, organised by the RSPB, while Chris Gomersall will be hosting a series of community workshops aimed at local schools, colleges and other groups at the Zoology Museum.

‘Fens Through A Lens’ is organised by Cambridge University Museum of Zoology, the RSPB and the Wildlife Trust. The competition is open to amateur photographers of all ages and entry is free.

The competition rules, subject categories for photographs, age categories for entrants and suitable venues for taking photographs can all be found through the links on the sidebar.

Information sheets and entry forms for ‘Fens Through a Lens’ can be obtained from the Museum of Zoology, or by contacting Julie McArthur with your name and address at jdm67@cam.ac.uk or 01223 336650.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you use this content on your site please link back to this page.