Precious Cornish memories win Laura the Diamond AONB Photo Prize

A pilgrimage to South Cornwall was the inspiration behind a brilliant photo which, in capturing the essence of the county’s nationally protected Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in their 60th year, has won Laura Moody from South Yorkshire a luxury week for two further down the coast at Mylor Yacht Harbour.

Laura was re-visiting Polperro, the scene of many happy holidays with her late grandparents, when she snapped the winning entry in the Cornwall AONB ‘Diamond Landscapes’ photo competition.
Her photo pipped more than a hundred entries taken right across Cornwall’s 12 AONBs, with Richard Higgins taking second prize for his “Wish in a Bottle, Harlyn Bay” and third prize going to Roy Curtis for his “Kayakers, River Lerryn Reflections”.

Laura Moody’s photo, taken near Polperro, encapsulates Cornwall’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

1st place winner of the AONB Diamond landscapes photo competition – Laura Moody with her photo taken near Polperro.

In her narrative accompanying her entry Laura says  “This summer I decided to take a holiday in Polperro to relive happy memories of my grandparents and the day I took this photo was the day that I laid to rest my grandad’s ashes between Polperro and Talland Bay – so this photo of the beach and the cave is really precious to me.”

Among the competition’s judges was Neil Salter – Managing Director of Mylor Yacht Harbour and a voluntary Trustee for the Cornwall AONB Trust. “We felt that Laura’s brilliant photo encapsulates a lot of the elements of the AONB,” he says.

“We have beaches, trees, countryside, the sea, rocks and the sunshine. We also have elements of human interaction which is what we feel is one of the keys to ensuring that the natural environment is protected for the future – that we interact properly and keep things beautiful. We felt that her supporting narrative was equally beautiful and her submission is a worthy winner.”

3rd place winner of the AONB Photo competition third - Roy Curtis for “Kayakers, River Lerryn Reflections”

3rd place: Roy Curtis for “Kayakers, River Lerryn Reflections”

Richard Higgins’ second prize photo “Wish in a Bottle, Harlyn Bay”

2nd place: Richard Higgins “Wish in a Bottle, Harlyn Bay”

 

Cornwall’s 12 AONBs – 11 tracts of Cornish coastline and the whole of Bodmin Moor – were amongst the first in the UK to become protected landscapes under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
Laura and a lucky companion will get to immerse themselves for a week in Mylor’s tranquil part of the Cornwall AONB, staying in one of the Harbourside Holidays cottages with access to quiet beaches, coves and coastal walks – yet close to the bustling historic port of Falmouth.
Richard Higgins’ second prize win takes him to St Mawes and lunch for two at the elegant Hotel Tresanton, overlooking St Anthony Headland and its lighthouse made famous by the children’s programme Fraggle Rock.
Roy Curtis wins third prize of a Family Fal River Mussel Card with water-borne access to Falmouth Harbour and the Carrick Roads up as far as Truro.

For information on the twelve landscapes of Cornwall’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the work of the Cornwall AONB Trust please visit the AONB website> .

Highly commended photos:

 

highly commended - 015 drone circling at night, Rame Head chapel - Oliver Dickinson

Highly commended – Drone circling at night, Rame Head chapel – Oliver Dickinson

Highly commended - Natures diamonds - Humpback Whale, Mounts Bay - Richard Higgins

Highly commended – Natures diamonds – Humpback Whale, Mounts Bay – Richard Higgins