Winners announced from the 2009 RHS Photographic Competition

Linda Wride from Oxford has been crowned the RHS Photographer of the Year 2009. Linda’s image entitled ‘The allotment in June’ took first place in the Garden View category and fought off 2,000 other entries to claim Linda her coveted title.

Explaining her picture, Linda said, “This image was taken at my local allotments, as part of a project called ‘Cultivating Communities’. The poppies, verbascum and alchemilla jostle for space outside the greenhouse where tomatoes are thriving in the warmth. The watering cans stand ready for use. Who says the cottage garden is dead?”

Each year the RHS Photographic Competition invites professional and amateur photographers from across the globe to enter their images, as a way of showcasing the very best of Britain’s favourite pastime; gardening. Last year the competition was extended to include children for the first time, producing an RHS Young Photographer of Year. This year that accolade was awarded to 18 year old Tom Flathers from Upper Sepey.

Explaining his shot, Tom said, “This shot was taken in Poland in a beautiful garden outside a castle. I feel the shallow depth of field is effective.”

In 2009 there were six categories open to adults; Plant Portrait, Plant close-up, Garden view, Wildlife in the Garden, People in the Garden and Garden Edibles, and two for children; Budding Photographer (ages 14- 18) and In the Garden (ages 13 and under).

This year’s competition was judged by professional garden photographer, Sarah Cuttle, Deputy Editor of The Garden magazine, Chris Young and RHS Licensing Manager, James Arnold.

James, whose previous roles include working for Getty Images, said, "The quality of the images entered was extraordinary - I was deeply impressed by the imaginative way that people interpreted the competition’s categories."

The top prize for the RHS Photographer of the Year earns the winner £1,000, while the first, second and third placed winners in each category also receive cash prizes. The children and young people receive either vouchers or equipment to help them develop their skills.

The RHS is the UK’s leading gardening charity, dedicated to bring gardening into people’s lives. The 2010 photographic competition will open on the 1st April 2010, to register your interest please email [email protected]

To see a full list of the 2009 winners and their images please visit www.rhs.org.uk/Competitions/Photo-competition