Park inspired prize picture

Terry Cooper’s ‘Postcards from the Park’ photo, White on Black, is on display at Southwark Park Caf Gallery.

It was chosen at the Northern Ireland winner of the annual UK-wide competition organised by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) in partnership with parks charity GreenSpace.

Terry’s photo hugely impressed the judges who included Mike McCartney. It has also been turned into postcards which are available at Lottery-funded venues and parks.

“I’m delighted to have won the Northern Ireland category of the ‘Postcards from the Park’ competition; it's so exciting to have my photo exhibited in a London gallery, “said Terry.

“I spend a lot of time in Victoria Park mostly to walk and watch the wildlife. I took this photo in October 2009 and what inspired me was the lighting and the detail in the swan’s wings."

Terry also met environmentalist and presenter, Chris Packham who underlined the theme of the initiative.

He said: “We’re so lucky in the UK to have such wonderful and varied green spaces which not only offer massive benefits in terms of health, quality of life and well-being, but also offer brilliant opportunities to get up close and personal with nature. It’s essential we keep on investing in them as there is still plenty of work to be done to look after them all properly. Every community deserves to be near a great park.”