This summer sees the launch of Postcards from the Park 2010, a national photography competition organised by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) and parks charity GreenSpace.

Now in its fourth year, this competition continues to grow with thousands of entries received each year. It encourages everyone to get out and about in their local public park and photograph what they love most about it. Categories include wildlife, heritage and people at play.

The overall winner will receive £1,000 of Jessops vouchers and finalists will be in with a chance of winning an overnight stay in London and seeing their photo exhibited at a London Gallery.

The closing date is Sunday 1 August 2010. For more information and to enter the competition.

Postcards from the Park highlights the unique part that parks play in community life, promoting the joint Parks for People funding programme, supported by HLF and BIG, which has to date invested £600m in improving and transforming public parks and green spaces.

Environmentalist and presenter, Chris Packham, said: "Parks are great places to take photos and there’ll be no problem finding loads of interesting subject matter, from wildlife to trees, and people having fun to detailed features on a bandstand or building. We are always impressed with the flair of photos we receive and I'm sure this year's entries will be even better."

Drew Bennellick, Head of Parks at HLF, speaking on behalf of HLF and BIG, said: “At long last summer is almost here and it’s the perfect time to enjoy and explore our wonderful public parks. Many people don’t realise how much continued investment it takes to ensure they are kept in good condition which is why HLF and BIG are dedicated to supporting them with over £600m worth of investment to date. This competition aims to get everyone involved and encourage people to value what their park means to them in a fun and imaginative way.”

Paul Bramhill, CEO of GreenSpace, said: “This competition is an excellent way for everyone to get out and about in and enjoy their local public park. Postcards from the Park has now become one of the highlights of the parks’ calendar and I am looking forward to seeing all the entries.”

The exhibition event will take place at Café Gallery in Southwark Park, London on Friday 3rd September where competition judges, celebrity photographer Mike McCartney and environmentalist Chris Packham will be meeting winners and talking about what the future holds for parks funding.

People love parks*
• 93% of people say that parks are a high priority for lottery environment and heritage funds
• 95% of visits to HLF funded parks are enjoyable, peaceful and relaxing
• 86% of parents with young children and 89% of grandparents say that on a nice day their children would prefer to go to the park than watch TV
• Over 50% of park features such as bandstands or toilets have been lost since 1950.

Success stories
Recent Lottery funded parks openings include Barnes Park in the North East which celebrated its centenary last year and Bushy Park in London that has just reopened its iconic HLF funded Diana Fountain after major refurbishments.

Notes to editors

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, public parks and historic places to archaeology, species and skills, HLF invests in every part of our diverse heritage.  HLF has supported 33,900 projects, allocating £4.4billion across the UK. 

The Parks for People programme uses Lottery funds to support the regeneration, conservation and increased enjoyment of public parks. The programme aims to improve the local environment and put parks firmly back at the heart of community life. In England the two Lottery Funds have been working in partnership from 2006 to deliver a multi-million pound investment in public parks of £150m. Over the past three years, the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) has invested £80m (in England only) with £70m coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the UK.

HLF is continuing to fund public park projects in 2010 with an investment of £20m each year.  The next closing date for applications is 31st August 2010. To find out more about the Parks for the People programme. The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) remains committed to working in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in making a success of the Parks for People programme and has allocated £10 million in its grant budget for 2010/11 towards the programme in England.

HLF has invested £527m in over 530 historic public parks, gardens, squares and promenades right across the UK.

The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) rolls out close to £2million in Lottery good cause money every 24 hours, which together with other Lottery distributors means that across the UK most people are within a few miles of a Lottery-funded project. BIG, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.  The Big Lottery Fund and its predecessor bodies have invested more than £1.3billion in environmental initiatives. www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

GreenSpace is a registered charity which works to improve parks and green spaces by raising awareness, involving communities and creating skilled professionals. www.green-space.org.uk

Biodiversity is life
HLF and BIG - helping to safeguard our natural wealth and reduce biodiversity loss. www.biodiversityislife.net

*Information sourced by HLF

Further information

Laura Bates or Alison Scott, HLF Press Office on 0207 591 6027 / 6032 or lbates@hlf.org.uk / alisons@hlf.org.uk

Helen Harch, BIG Press Office on 0207 211 3707 or helen.harch@biglotteryfund.org.uk