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Lake's canal swan pic is international winner

'Wot you looking at? (courtesy: Adam Lake)

Juvenile swan shot by juvenile photographer

A boy called Lake who works on a canal is the international Young Bird Photographer of the Year.

Adam Lake, 17, from Pennymoor near Tiverton snapped a swan on his phone whilst volunteering with the rangers along the Grand Western Canal.

His photo went up against 15,000 others taken all around the world for the Young Bird Photographer of the Year competition. Adam won the 14 to 17-year category and the title of 'Overall Young Bird Photographer of the Year for 2020'.

Adam said: “I was working along the canal, when a juvenile swan started to come towards me. I thought it might’ve been interested in what we were doing or more likely just wanted a bit of my packed lunch!

“I got a little closer to the water’s edge. Because it was so spontaneous, I only had my mobile phone, so I put it low to the ground, roughly eye level with the swan and I took a couple of photos. My entry was definitely the best one.”

Adam, who's been a volunteer with the Grand Western Canal for five years, wins £300 and a pair of binoculars. He has now finished his countryside management course at college and is now looking for a job as a ranger or warden.

Talking about his volunteer work, Adam said: “I have wanted to be a ranger since school and by doing all this volunteering work alongside my college work, it puts me in a great position to make that happen, as you need a lot of experience to do the job.”

Adam is one of many people who had been offered the opportunity to volunteer and work alongside the rangers at Grand Western Canal Country Park and Local Nature Reserve. The reserve offers work experience to college students, like Adam, who want build towards becoming a full-time ranger/warden.

Mark Baker from Country Parks said: “In recent years we have had students from Bicton College, Bridgewater College and Petroc College and have provided opportunities for people to volunteer midweek with the rangers, as Adam did with his dad before he started college. This has been put on hold at present due to covid-19, but hopefully we will be able to offer these opportunities again as they are so important to those who get involved.”

Adam will use the prize money to buy a new camera or maybe some better camera equipment. He posts pictures on Instagram at: @adamlakenature

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