Keith, who is from Ulverston, won of a pair of Opticron binoculars after his photo was judged the best by Cumbrian photographer Tiree Dawson. Keith is a keen amateur photographer who has been visiting South Walney Nature Reserve regularly for over 40 years and tries to go five or six times a year. He said: “The waders were quite hard to photograph this weekend due to the wind. Once we spotted the turnstone, it was a bit easier as they seem more tolerant of people, but they are hard to find as they blend in perfectly.”

The children’s painting competition was won by 6-year-old Henry Blood who, according to his mum, loves wildlife, so he was thrilled to win! He did a great painting of oystercatchers (far right) and 8-year-old Allan Summer was runner up with his wonderful painting of a ringed plover.

The first-ever Walney Wader Festival was a great success, with nearly 200 people attending over the weekend. The wildlife-themed walks, talks and workshops focused on wading birds but visitors also found out about the reserve’s successful colony of grey seals. Event organiser, Hayden Hurst, who is a Trainee Marine & Coastal Conservation Officer with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: