Hedgerow flowers and fruits through the seasons
Winners of the Somerset Hedge Group 2012 digital photographic competition were presented with their prizes on Friday 30th November at the Crowcombe Hall by Lady Gass, Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset. The competition follows successful competitions in 2008 and 2010. The Presentation Evening was opened by Pete Grainger, Chairman of the Somerset Hedge Group. Adam Lockyear, Farm Conservation Advisor, Somerset Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest, followed with a talk on The role of hedges in the future of agriculture. Iain Porter, Development Officer, Quantock Hills AONB, followed with a presentation on The future of the Quantock Hills – opportunities and challenges facing protected landscapes, which was apt for the location beside the Quantocks. As well as talks, there were a number of displays on hedging and the work of Hedge Group.
Display by Mr and Mrs Pearce of Yeovil
Prizes were sponsored Somerset County Council, the Mendip Hills AONB, the Blackdown Hills AONB, the Council for the Protection of Rural England and Marshall Agroecology Ltd, for Open and Junior (under 15) classes.
The prize winners were:
Junior – Highly Commended: Hedge view by George Dibble of Langford
Open – Highly Commended: Guelder rose berries by Sandra Howe of Pilton
Open – Highly Commended: Hawthorn berries in frost by Harold Hurford of Langford
Junior 1st prize: Butterfly and berries by George Dibble of Langford
Open 3rd prize: Hedgerow, Brendon Hills Elizabeth Jessup of Minehead
Open 2nd prize: Hardington Moor blackthorn by Trevor Pearce of Yeovil
Open 1st prize: Chiffchaff with berries by Nick Stacey of Westonzoyland
Nick Stacey also won the 2010 Somerset Hedge Group Photographic Competition! His comment: “I really didn’t expect to win again”.