Winners of ‘What’s in your backyard?’ photo competition announced:
Created to inspire kids to explore and connect with their local environments, hundreds of entries poured in from schools and children across Australia for the 2022 ‘What’s in your backyard?’ photo competition with host of Gardening Australia Costa Georgiadis and Junior Landcare.
“We asked kids to put on their nature goggles and look at what’s living in the world all around them – from the local community garden or creek or sand dune by the beach, to the plants growing on their balcony,” said Costa. “It’s all about little opportunities; an invitation to let curiosity and inquiry roam free and connect to the idea that nature is not something you go to, but is something all around you. Connections begin to be made that really engage children with new ways of thinking about their relationship to nature and the environment.”
The Junior Landcare Ambassador added: “While the winning snaps are sensational, each and every entry has blown me away. For me, the best part has been showing each other what’s going on in the world around us, whether that’s down on the peninsula, in the landscapes of the Grampians, up in the rainforest in the Daintree or out in the dry lands of the red centre. Together, each entry showed us that nature is awesome – and the more you engage with it, the more you see it.”
Joining Costa and the Junior Landcare team to help choose the winning entries was Jayden Gunn, a freelance wildlife photographer and passionate conservationist. Together, they reviewed over 800 photos and accompanying descriptions, which made up 50% of the overall score, and are proud to announce the winners are:
National Overall Winners:
Finn Thomson, 16, QLD, ‘Adapt and Survive’
Living within the post which supports our lot number, these frogs make me think of all the animals displaced from their natural environment by human activity. I am reminded of how they’ve been forced to adapt and how perhaps it is finally time for us to adapt to THEIR world.
“A remarkable find and photograph paired with a brilliantly passionate description. This image shows the forced adaptability of a species in an ever-changing world. Survival is key and it always fascinates me to see the creative ways some of our animals adjust to live in our altered world.” – Jayden Gunn, Judge
The lack of suitable habitat is a real threat to frogs across Australia. With some research and careful preparation, you can take action and create a frog-friendly habitat.
Jaya Hunn, 11, ACT, ‘Sticky sundews’
This beautiful sundew was hiding amongst the native grasses in Umbagong District Park near our house. This photo was captured during our Landcare working bee in the late morning when it still had dew drops glistening. I love sundews and other carnivorous plants because of the way they eat insects.
“A fantastic image of a truly fascinating member of Australia’s micro world. The image is sharp and you can clearly see the sticky dew drops this plant species produces to trap prey insects. Great work and keep up that curiosity of the micro world, there is still so much to be discovered and lots of wonder to be found.” – Jayden Gunn, Judge
Investigate your surroundings to see which plants and animals are sharing your local habitat with you.
Winning School:
St Brigid’s Primary School – Gisborne, VIC
Student: Sebastian Wozniak
The beautiful Woodend sky overlooking Mount Macedon. The sun rises from the other side of the Earth. The stunning sunrise paints the sky red like fire and pink like a vibrant cherry blossom. The mountain looks like a long caterpillar traveling up to Queensland across the Great Dividing Range.
St Brigid’s Primary School – Gisborne, VIC
Student: Zavier Ward
When I open my curtains each day I wake up to this beautiful view of my green paddocks and mountains. This makes me feel good and very lucky. The trees are special because they make my heart feel happy.
St Brigid’s Primary School – Gisborne, VIC
Student: Jayden Jeselnik
I love snails because they slip and slide across the timber. It’s so cool that they can hide inside their shell to be safe.
St Brigid’s Primary School – Gisborne, VIC
Student: Tiernan McGinley
When I saw this stunning bird I was filled with joy because of its gorgeous colourful feathers. There were so many more of its beautiful friends on the deck too which was amazing to see!! It was such an awesome sight and made us so happy because of their beauty.
*A sample selection of the many photos sent in from almost every student at the school.
State and Territory Winners:
Jaya Hunn, 11, ACT, ‘Sticky Sundews’
This beautiful sundew was hiding amongst the native grasses in Umbagong District Park near our house. This photo was captured during our Landcare working bee in the late morning when it still had dew drops glistening. I love sundews and other carnivorous plants because of the way they eat insects.
Kasey Morgan, 12, NSW, ‘Cloud over Crop’
This photo is important to me as I love the cloud formation and the capturing of water about to fall and strengthen our crops.
Eli Cooper, 11, NT, ‘Bush Passion Fruit’
It grows at our school and neighbours back yard. I tasted it. Its really nice and sweet when ripe but leaves a sour tingling taste in your mouth when it’s not yellow. I Think its important to learn about bush tucker and knowing what we can and cant eat.
Finn Thomson, 16, QLD, ‘Adapt and Survive’
Living within the post which supports our lot number, these frogs make me think of all the animals displaced from their natural environment by human activity. I am reminded of how they’ve been forced to adapt and how perhaps it is finally time for us to adapt to THEIR world.
Sefton Larner, 10, TAS, ‘Frog Camouflage’
My photo is special to me because I like frogs. My backyard is bushy with a creek and dam. Where there’s a creek there’s a croak. My photo shows the frog in its habitat, a damp shady place all year round with tree roots, plants and rocks to hide under.
Alice Lawrance, 12, WA, ‘The Sun and the Flowers’
I’m surrounded by 11 acres of beautiful bush land and with so many unique species. The Leucospermum in our garden is the most striking. The gorgeous yellow petals glowing on the heart shaped leaves is a stunning view. It draws the eye out to the vast view of the city.
Django Westmoreland, 13, SA, ‘Black-shouldered kite’
I love birds and the Black Shouldered-Kite is my favorite bird of prey (BOP.) I am a member of the Youth Environment Council this year and my project is to create and restore habitat for Fleurieu bird species. I planted 800 indigenous plants and put nesting boxes up.
Amber Matheson, 5, VIC, ‘Blue bee on a blue flower’
This is the first blue flower I’ve seen. I was very excited to see my first blue bee visiting because I know that is very special.
State and Territory Runners-Up:
Ahmed Hussein, 15, ACT, ‘Busy Bee Inside Yellow Flower’
The photo is a good representation of what spring is about to me. It captures a Bee in pollinating a yellow flower close up. Looking at the photo reminds me of the sounds and smells of spring, such as flowers and buzzing insects. It was taken using my phone.
Isabelle Vagiotas, 12, NSW, ‘My Pincushion’
At the start of the Covid lockdown, my family planted a small pincushion and now it is even bigger than me. I love walking out in my backyard and seeing this plant because it reminds me of how thinks can blossom even in the toughest of times.
Scarlett King, 12, NT, ‘A fragment of red’
It is important to me because I love to grow my own fresh produce! When I was younger I had thriving strawberry plants and I adored caring for them. Having food like capsicum growing in my garden makes me feel independent and self-sufficient.
Maria Human, 15, QLD, ‘Dew covered spider web’
I love looking at spider webs with dew on them. If you look closely, it looks like the drops aren’t connected to each other. I think webs are very creative, & a lot of times we don’t realise how much time & effort a spider puts in, to make a web.
Harrison Allen, 8, WA, ‘Kangaroo Paw Delight’
The Kangaroo Paw is a great survivor of bushfires and a lack of rain. They remind me that even when things don’t go my way, I will be bright and happy again.
Lucy Baldock, 10, SA, ‘Pepper Tree Bee House’
This photo is of my family’s pepper tree which is a fun and awesome place for myself, my siblings and the bees. Our pepper tree and the creatures who call it home are important to me because I love to see them and play in the pepper tree.
Kaitlyn Pollock, 13, VIC, ‘My yellow sunshine’
On my farm we have canola crops. Each spring my backyard is engulfed in yellow flowers of wonder. The canola crops attract a lot of bees which help pollinate all the other plants and flowers that grow around my house. I love the way the yellow flowers brighten up everyday.
School Runners-Up:
Tarrawanna Public School – NSW
Our cabbages have grown so quickly we think are brains have to! We love checking our garden growth and change each day.
Tarrawanna Public School – NSW
This plant reminds us of a pink pom pom and makes us feel really warm and fuzzy! Spending time in the garden, helps us to be the best learners we can be.
Henbury School – NT
Student: Leanne
We saw this tree with the seeds in it after I spotted a Gouldian finch in the grass. The seeds are edible and used as bush medicine.
Henbury School – NT
Student: Rowan
In our school backyard during our photography lessons we are lucky to take photos of the amazing wildlife in their habit. This frilled neck lizard was kind enough to stay still, so we could practice our focus and zoom skills with the DSLR cameras.
*A sample selection of photos sent in from these schools.