The Friends of Mere Sands Wood ran their second photographic competition in October 2011.

 

The Friends is an association dedicated to the support of the work and development of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve in Rufford.

In recent years, the group has funded training courses for volunteer workers, equipment for use on the reserve, signage and display boards, cameras and TV equipment, a weather station and supported the work of species recording and data collecting groups.

The Friends also run an annual programme of events both indoors and outdoors on the reserve and in other locations. These events are open to the public and have provided entertainment, education and enjoyment for all.

Photographic Competition

The winners have been announced of the 2011 competition and are as follows:

Mere Sands Wood Category Winner: Tom Charles with his photo of 2 Great Crested Grebes, entitled ‘Romance and Ripples’.

2nd place: Ian McLeod with  ‘Winter Meadow Sunset’.

UK Category Winner: Oliver Wilks from West Sussex with ‘FOX’

2nd place: Alan Forrest with ‘Common Tern’

Junior Winner: Elliot Brockbank with ‘Famous Grouse’

2nd place. Sophie Stevens with ‘Spring Raindrops’

 

Sponsorship was been raised from the following local firms and organisations:

- Jason Smalley. Photography and Film
- Opticron. Optical Equipment.
- Red Barn Products - Sponsoring Junior Category.
- C.W. Berry. (Builders Merchants)
- Whitehead and Aldrich. (Chartered Accountants)
- Rufford Veterinary Group.
- Rufford Arms Hotel.
- Don Fraser Coaches.
- J. Holland and Son. ( Westhead )
- Homestead Farm Shop.

Last year there were over 130 entries. The winners were David Biggs (Mere Sands Wood category), Phil Hodson (UK category) and Jacob Parsons (Junior category). The public vote winner was Toby Haslinger.