Creative youngsters get the picture - and win!

Their eye-catching photos of these areas won them top Olympus digital cameras in a Euro-backed Big Picture competition.  

Schoolchildren aged five to 18 from Southend and Rochford entered the contest, launched in the Netherlands and Belgium.  

This aimed to foster an appreciation of all our green spaces, particularly those in Urban Habitats, close to towns and cities.  

It was part of an EU-funded partnership whose members included Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, (RSPB), Rotterdam Water Board, the Flemish Land Agency, and Rochford District Council. Olympus Cameras also sponsored the contest in south-east Essex.  

The winners received their prizes at a special presentation ceremony.  

Meanwhile, the pictures entered, can be viewed at http://www.urbanhabitats.co.uk/ and will be displayed at Southend Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend, from Friday 30th September, to Tuesday 11th October.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Culture and Tourism, Councillor Derek Jarvis said: "Congratulations to all the participants on their marvellous photos of open spaces, plants and wildlife in Southend and Rochford.  

"Our green spaces are vital to the health and wellbeing of residents and visitors. We aim ultimately to link up Southend's green spaces with open countryside to the north of the town to form The Three Rivers Trail for walkers, cyclists and all the family to enjoy."  

The winners were: 

Five to ten-year-olds: 1st - Tyler Field, six; 2nd - Kezia Richardson, ten; 3rd - Charlotte Howell, ten 

11 to 14-year-olds: 1st - Mathew Little13; 2nd - Billy Bailey,11; 3rd - Catherine Glen, 11,  

15 to 18-year-olds: 1st - Amy Dorking,16 from Westcliff High School for Girls (Her picture was also judged to be the best overall, so an additional camera is to be presented to her school); 2nd - Abbey Davis, 18; 3rd - Daniel Cater,18.