Love of the Marshes shines through, as winners of photo comp announced

Minding the bags, by Martin Slavin (Image: Archant)

Professional and amateur photographers alike were asked by the campaign group to convey the theme, What I Love About the Marshes,” in a bid to celebrate the open green space spanning Waltham Forest and Hackney.

Abigail Woodman, of Save Lea Marshes (SLM) said: “SLM consider it important for people to express their personal connection with the marshes and believe this is an important way of conveying the true value of the marshes at a time when this space is under increasing threat of development and inappropriate use.

“As well as being an important habitat to our wildlife, the marshes are also a wonderful place for people to relax from the stresses of city life, walk their dogs, exercise and spend leisure time with their families.”

The overall winner was amateur photographer Rebecca McLaren, whose image of Leyton Marsh entitled “Big Sky over Ice” captures an amazing light effect over its open landscape.

She said she was delighted to win the competition: “My love of the marshes must have come through, the marshes are an amazing wild place, you step into them and don’t feel like you’re in London.

“I started to take photos of the marshes and file them in a folder called beautiful Hackney, because it is beautiful here.”

The exhibition will be displayed at the Waterworks Centre in Leyton from April 2-30, and will then be at the Black Cat Café in Clarence Road, Lower Clapton before a stint at the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden.

The three judges were Colin O’Brien, a professional photographer from Hackney, London Assembly Member Jenny Jones, and general manager of The WaterWorks Centre, Alan Seabrook.