THE winner of the Tamar Valley Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s (AONB) Hidden Valley photography contest was announced last week at a special viewing in the Tamar Valley Centre, Drakewalls.

Professional photographer, and daughter of the chair of the Tamar Valley Tourism Association (TAVATA), Sarah Marshall judged the 60 entries that were submitted as part of this year’s 20th anniversary celebrations of the Tamar Valley AONB.

Charlotte Dancer, information and communications officer for the AONB team said: ‘We asked people to send us pictures of their favourite, most special part of the Tamar Valley and we were overwhelmed by the response and the variety of the entries. The pictures really show why the Tamar Valley is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.’

The winning entry was of Shillamill Viaduct, by Mike Wright from Bere Alston.

Mike said: ‘I chose this shot because it’s tucked away in Crowndale Valley and probably only seen by people using the road to get to or from Bere Alston. I also liked the way it is almost hidden in the trees and the mist.’

Sarah Marshall said: ‘The photo perfectly captured the essence of the Tamar Valley. It was a lovely composition with the mist, the viaduct and the trees. Very atmospheric.’

Two other entries caught Sarah’s eye. Yachts by Tim Blackburn with its clever use of the reflections in the water, great composition and use of colour; and Green Patch by Robert Gualtieri with its stunning autumn colours, showing the River Tamar in all its beauty.

Mike was presented with a Cornish Welcome Tour of his choice, donated by John Marshall from TAVATA.

Throughout the Hidden Valley exhibition, the AONB team asked visitors to vote for their favourite image. The most popular photograph was Sunset and Puddles by Kate Harman, with the runner-p being Tim Blackburn’s Silhouettes. Both entrants received a Tamar Valley goody bag.

During the evening, prizes were also awarded for the 20 Places, 200 Years competition, using the Rate My View app. This competition highlighted landscape change over time, as people were asked to take images from the exact position that historic images had been taken. John Martin, from Plymouth University, who developed the Rate My View app with South Devon AONB, judged the entries.

The prizes for this competition were all donated by TAVATA members.

First prize of a night’s bed and breakfast for two people at Pentillie went to Pam Mace for her photo of Greenhill arsenic works.

Second prize, a night’s bed and breakfast for two at The Moorland Garden Hotel was won by Ross Hanley for his view down the incline railway at Kit Hill, while third prize — a three-course Sunday lunch for two at The Bedford Hotel — was awarded to Toby O’Neill for his incline railway with dog picture.

The AONB team would very much like the Hidden Valley exhibition to tour around the Tamar Valley during 2016. If you would like the exhibition to come to a venue near you, contact Charlotte Dancer on 01822 835030 or send an e-mail to [email protected]