Northwich Woodlands Photography Exhibition

Friends of Anderton and Marbury showcase photography from its recent competition at Northwich’s Lion Salt Works Museum from 29th March.

From 29 March, Cheshire’s premier industrial heritage museum, Northwich’s Lion Salt Works Museum will be showcasing a photography exhibition organised by the Friends of Anderton and Marbury (FoAM). The exhibition features the best work of a recent successful competition that attracted over 170 entries. The photographs capture the diverse and special habitats of the Northwich Woodlands and will be on display until 3 July. Entry to the exhibition is included in the standard entry price of the museum*. For further information, go to www.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk or call 01606 275066. 

Jim Jeeves, Event Organiser for FoAM said: “FoAM is a proactive group of 245 local volunteers who support and play an active part in maintaining the beautiful 1000-acre Northwich Woodlands. We do this by organising walks, talks and events and by developing projects for conservation and improved bio-diversity and amenities.” 

“Over the last couple of years, the pandemic has severely restricted our events but FoAM decided that its biannual photography competition was one way to stimulate interest and purpose for visitors to the Northwich Woodlands. The free-to-enter competition was open to everyone – not just FoAM members – provided that the photos pictured the Woodlands within the last two years and fell into one of four categories: landscape, flora, fauna and ‘work, rest and play’. We are delighted to have received over 170 entries from Cheshire and Greater Manchester and very pleased that our neighbour, the Lion Salt Works Museum is kindly hosting this exhibition of the best pictures”. 

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “The Friends of Anderton and Marbury are an extraordinary group of volunteers who, since forming in 1999, have supported the Northwich Woodlands’ dedicated Ranger to maintain and improve this lovely, habitat-rich area. I have had the pleasure of visiting and working with the volunteers on a number of occasions and I’m delighted that they can showcase these wonderful photographs. The Northwich Woodlands includes not just woodland but parkland (including two avenues of mature trees) and a bluebell wood as well as rich waterscapes of mere, canal and river. In addition to well sign-posted footpaths and cycle paths, there are also interesting information boards. Much of the Woodland’s diversity is represented in the high quality pictures that won the FoAM photography competition and are shown in this wonderful exhibition.” 

“The Northwich Woodlands can be accessed just two minutes from the entrance of the Lion Salt Works Museum via a well signposted foot and cycle path or by simply following the canal path along the Trent & Mersey Canal that borders the Museum.” 

The Photography Competition was judged by Simon Davies, Head of Sixth Form Art Department, Sir John Deane’s Sixth Form College; Nick Jones, a well-respected professional photographer and Andy Harmer, a well-known ecologist. It was decided that this year there would be no overall winner and each category winner was awarded a certificate - commendations were also awarded. 

The winners were: 

Flora category winner:  ‘Winter Teasel’ by David Trevor from Davenham 

Fauna category winner: ‘Firecrest’ by Maggie Bullock from Sandiway 

Landscape category winner: ‘Neumann’s Flash’ by Dave Atherton from Sandiway 

Work, rest and play category winner: ‘Happy Days’ by Graham Walker from Barnton 

Pictured - Fauna category winner: Firecrest (Maggie Bullock from Sandiway)