A STUNNING picture by an Inkberrow photographer is to appear in Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s 2019 calendar.
Bas Yates’s shot of starlings taking a moment on an old boot will represent October in what is a glorious collection of images showcasing the county’s wildlife.
The annual photography competition run by the trust aims to highlight the beauty of the county’s wildlife and wild places.
Winning images this year range from snowy tree tops and shafts of sunlight in a woodland glade to a brown hare in a summer meadow.
Bas’s picture made it through to the top two and narrowly missed out to an image of a brown hare in the public vote.
“Worcestershire is home to some very talented photographers and with more than 220 entries from 44 photographers, judging was tough,” said the trust’s Wendy Carter, who organised the competition.
“The 12 winning entries are great images and we’re really proud to have another great calendar that will help to raise funds for our conservation work right across the county.”
Bas said: “I thought the old boot would look good with a bird on it so I put some live meal worms near and robins were eating them.
“It was annoying when the starlings arrived and ate them all. Then they stood on the boot and made a picture.”
Winners receive a copy of the calendar with the overall winner also receiving a print of their image kindly donated by London Camera Exchange in Worcester. More than 200 people took part in a public vote promoted through the trust’s website and social media channels to choose the overall winner.
The winning image, which will feature on the front cover of the calendar, was of a brown hare taken by Gill Smith of Rochford, near Tenbury Wells.
Staff at the trust were helped in their judging by Jason Curtis of Wyre Wildlife and Pete Walkden of Pete Walkden Photography, both local wildlife photographers and previous winners of the competition.
The calendar costs £7 and is available to buy from the trust’s offices or online at www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/shop.
Photographers can stay in touch with the Trust through its Flickr group www.flickr.com/groups/worcestershirewildlifetrust .
