I’ve won a competition!!!

As you can probably gather from the title of this blog post, something very exciting happened this weekend! It was the final of the Woodland Trust Igniting Innovation competition, in which I was a finalist and after giving a ten minute presentation of my project to a panel of judges I was granted £3,000 to make my project a reality!!! However, this of course doesn’t explain what exactly the competition was about or my project… or actually any details so this blog post is an explanation of the competition, what happened at the final, and most excitingly what this means for the future!!!

The igniting innovation competition

The competition was run by the Woodland Trust charity- an amazing UK based nature charity which works to help save and conserve woodland (as the name would kind of suggest!). The competition was open to anyone age 16-25 and the idea was to pitch a project that would help combat climate change and also help woodland and wildlife, with the chance to win up to £5,000 in funding and a 12 month mentorship with someone within the conservation sector to make your project a reality! The competition had three stages, an initial written pitch, a video pitch and then a 10 minute in person presentation from the nine finalists to a celebrity panel… And somehow, I made it through all three stages!     

Along the way each competitor received feedback and advice from the wonderful people at the Woodland trust as well as an online day of training about how to talk to an audience and give a presentation by the awesome guys at Loudspeaker (an organisation that gives workshops on public speaking!).  

But what was my idea?

My project proposal was for an interactive photography exhibit (think national gallery meets night at the museum) where by combining my photos with infographics, 3D sculptures, Audio effects, Conservation materials and interactive activities it would tell the story of some of the more ‘hidden’ species in our woodlands, such as the Hazel dormouse, Red Wood ant, Bats, Reptiles, and other species that nobody really sees on a normal walk in the woods. So, by creating this exhibit it would highlight these awesome species in a really fun and interactive way which was accessible for everybody!

The Final

Held in a lovely venue in London, and perhaps the most nerve wrecking/amazing day of my life, I along with nine other finalists gave 10 minute presentations to a panel of judges (Meg McCubbin, Flora Beverley, Dwayne Fields, Danny Clarke, and Dr Hazel Jackson) as well as an audience of guests from the conservation sector, Woodland trust, the other finalists, and their plus ones. It was maybe the most nerve wrecking thing I have ever done… but I managed to (and I am definitely not going to be humble about it) TOTALLY ROCK IT! …If I do say so myself.

Anyway, half way between presentations, during judging deliberation and at the end there was lots of opportunity to network (something I frankly found terrifying but ultimately think I did quite well at) and talk to the other finalists and judges (yes, I did take a copy of Meg McCubbins book and get it signed because I am a total fan girl!). I also got photos taken with all the judges (except Dr Hazel Jackson, who disappeared before I got the chance- so if she reads this, please find me at the next event).

Finally, between all of this madness (which was totally amazing by itself) there was of course the actual competition prize- a total of £20,000 to be split between the 9 finalists – so everyone was already winning it was just dependant on how much the judges thought your idea needed!

And well, I was awarded £3,000!!!! Which I cannot believe I am typing and will now be spending the next few weeks actually realising what has happened!

So, what does this mean?

It means that sometime next year I will be able to actually hold an interactive photography exhibit with all of my photographs, in an actual space that people will be able to visit and view!!! It also means I will be able to get a telephoto camera lens meaning I will be able to take photographs of even more amazing animals.

A LOT of exciting things are going to be happening from now on!!!