Moorland canvases

Winners and runners-up in the "views of Weardale" photo competition have each received a canvas copy print of their winning image. We hope that this memento will take pride of place on their walls.

Living Uplands organised the photo competition alongside Durham Wildlife Trust to find exceptional images of our Upland moorland. Durham Wildlife Trust director Jim Cokill said: "With 37 nature reserves stretching from the Tees to the Tyne, we are well aware of just how many beautiful and varied landscapes we have in the area and what a vast array of exceptional wildlife is out there. It was fantastic to see some of this captured in the photographs submitted to the competition."

The winning landscape image was taken by Ian Turner and features a view of Bollihope. Ian said: "The use of a long lens (100mm - 400mm used at about 325mm) was deliberate as I wanted to get the beautiful snow-clad hills in the distance to look closer than they really were. The river and tree in the foreground gave extra interest to the composition."

The runner-up Landscape was of Pregnant Ewes crossing over the moors by Tracey Laing from Consett, County Durham. Tracey said: "I took the photograph out of my car window as when I stopped they all came towards me, I liked the picture as I thought it showed the harshness of winter in Weardale but also the beauty of it and that it would soon be spring and their lambs would soon be here."

Thanks to all who entered the competition and the wonderful images shared with Living Uplands and Durham Wildlife Trust.