| Nature鈥檚
Hotspots
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Images of our most beautiful places in Northern Ireland
went on display at RSPB NI's photography exhibition 鈥楴ature鈥檚
Hotspots鈥. 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.
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He went on to say:
鈥淚 hope that this will bring to public attention our
ASSIs which are so important for the protection of Northern
Ireland鈥檚 most rare and vulnerable habitats and species.鈥
The Minister added: 鈥淪ignificant progress has already
been made in protecting most important parts of our natural
heritage.
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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.
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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鈥檚 day, while the winning shot in the Under
16 category was of the Giant's Causeway. The best Birds
shot was of a robin.
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If you would like to find out more about the work of the
RSPB click .
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