Nature’s Hotspots

Images of our most beautiful places in Northern Ireland went on display at RSPB NI's photography exhibition ‘Nature’s Hotspots’. The exhibition is the culmination of a competition that aimed to raise awareness of the importance of our most valuable wildlife areas, known as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI).

The results were announced at an event in Parliament Buildings, Stormont with the Environment Minister, Edwin Poots, in attendance.

The Minister complimented RSPB on the great success of their competition and exhibition, and the many photographers for their efforts.

He went on to say:
“I hope that this will bring to public attention our ASSIs which are so important for the protection of Northern Ireland’s most rare and vulnerable habitats and species.”
The Minister added: “Significant progress has already been made in protecting most important parts of our natural heritage.

There were four categories in the competition: Landscape, Wildlife, Birds and Under-16. Entries featured everything from the cheeky robin to breathtaking shots of White Park Bay and exquisite close ups of damselflies. RSPB volunteer photographers also visited a number of ASSIs capturing images of flora, fauna, landscapes and habitats.

Winner of the Overall and Landscape categories, Dr Domhnall Brannigan, captured a moody Murlough Bay with the Mournes in the background.

The other winners were Jack Hughes from Belfast, Warren McConnaughie from Ballyclare and Andrew Mulholland from Coleraine. They won the Wildlife, Birds and Under 16 categories, respectively. The Wildlife winner was of a young fox yawning on a summer’s day, while the winning shot in the Under 16 category was of the Giant's Causeway. The best Birds shot was of a robin.

If you would like to find out more about the work of the RSPB click here.