- The winners of a UK-wide amateur photography competition have been announced.
- The #WalkingFromHome photography competition was organised by walking charity Living Streets to encourage people to keep walking locally during the recent lockdown.
- Kim Kjaerside (Edinburgh) and Becki Cox (Glasgow) won for their photos for purple and pink week respectively.
The winners of a national amateur photography competition have been announced. The #WalkingFromHome photography competition was organised by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking.
Entrants to the competition were asked to share photos of their daily walks during lockdown on social media. The competition ran for seven weeks during February and March, and each week had a different colour for inspiration.
Kim Kjaerside from Edinburgh won for his image taken on a family walk for purple week, whilst Becki Cox from Glasgow won for her street art picture taken in Glasgow. The rest of the winners hailed from Liverpool, London and Portsmouth.
Living Streets helped people stay active during lockdown by providing free walking resources and activities for all ages, along with advice on how to walk whilst following COVID-19 restrictions.
The charity launched the competition to help people keep their local walks interesting by taking the time to stop, look and connect with their surroundings.
Kim Kjaerside, Edinburgh (Purple week winner) said: “Myself, my wife and our two young kids live by Portobello, Edinburgh’s seaside. Here we are fortunate enough to have a local burn, fields and the beach to visit.
“During the last year we have got to know our local area so much better and been on many small adventures with the kids, exploring and learning about the local wildlife.
“My photograph of the crocuses was taken during one of many walks in our local National Trust for Scotland’s garden and forest. It’s one of our daughter’s favourite wildflowers and the setting seemed appropriate to showcase their beautiful purple colours.”
Becki Cox, Glasgow (Pink week winner said): “The graffiti in the picture I submitted says ‘cultivate radical softness’.
“As people walking, we are required to both look down at our feet but also up and out at the world around us. Walking connects us and enables those little moments of everyday humanity!”
Mary Creagh, Chief Executive, Living Streets said: “Staying local has meant we have discovered new places, met new people and explored our local area as never before. These winning photographs are a celebration of the rich visual landscape which is right on our doorstep.
“As lockdown eases and we travel further afield, we hope these photographs act as a reminder of the quiet, everyday joy that a short walk can bring.”
May is Living Streets’ National Walking Month and the charity wants people to keep up their new walking habit and make a pledge to ‘Walk this May’.
Living Streets has launched an online pledge, asking people to swap a number of short car journeys to walking during May.
After completing the pledge, people will be shown the cash savings they have made from reduced fuel costs, the carbon dioxide reduction of fewer car journeys and the health benefits they’ve made from walking.
Find out more at livingstreets.org.uk/WalkThisMay