FAQ's
Who can enter this competition?Does it cost anything to enter?
What are you looking for in the winning photograph?
Is there anything we should avoid taking photographs of?
I’m frightened of taking photos of children in the park, should I be?
How many photographs can I submit?
What format should the photographs be submitted in?
Is there a size restriction for photos submitted by post?
I don’t have a digital camera, can I still enter?
What will happen to the photographs that do not win?
Who are the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG)?
What is the ‘Parks for People’ programme?
Why are HLF and BIG doing this competition?
I want to improve my local park. What should I do?
Why do some parks get funding while other parks don’t?
What are the categories for the 2009 competition?
Who can enter this competition?
All EU residents can enter this competition.Does it cost anything to enter?
The competition is free to enter.What are you looking for in the winning photograph?
We are looking for photographs which illustrate what parks mean to people in a creative way.Is there anything we should avoid taking photographs of?
Please avoid taking photos which include:- obscene or offensive language and behaviour
- scenes which might cause embarrassment
- children (without parental permission)
I’m frightened of taking photos of children in the park, should I be?
Where you can, please take extra care when taking photographs of other people’s children, so ask their permission. Please avoid submitting photos of children in circumstances where the publication of the image might cause them harm or embarrassment.How many photographs can I submit?
You can only enter the competition once but you may submit up to five photographs.What format should the photographs be submitted in?
Please upload your photographs in JPEG format via the web site and each photograph should be no larger the 2MB.Is there a size restriction for photos submitted by post?
Ideally photos should be no more than 5x7 but should you win your photo will need to be enlarged to A4 size. Therefore, we request that you send us the negative of your photo as well.I don’t have a digital camera, can I still enter?
You can, all you need to do is fill in the application form and send it with your pictures to ‘Postcards from the Park’, GreenSpace, Caversham Court, Church Road, Reading, RG4 7AD.What will happen to the photographs that do not win?
Once the competition is over we will delete all photographs from our system.Who are the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG)?
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) was set up by Parliament in 1994 to give grants to a wide range of projects involving the local, regional and national heritage of the United Kingdom. HLF distributes a share of the money raised by the National Lottery for Good Causes. Since 1994, the HLF has awarded over £4.3 billion to more than 28,800 projects across the UK. HLF enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage.From our great museums and historic buildings, to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. Please visit www.hlf.org.uk to find out more.
The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
Please visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk to find out more.
What is the ‘Parks for People’ programme?
Parks for People is a joint funding programme from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund which has been designed to improve the local environment and encourage communities to get actively involved in their local park.HLF has already invested more than £400 million in over 300 parks right across the UK, while BIG has invested over £700 million on environmental projects. Through Parks for People, HLF and BIG are now injecting a further £160 million over three years into making sure these green havens are even better for us all.
Why are HLF and BIG doing this competition?
Both Good Cause distributors want to encourage the public all over UK to enjoy their public parks and raise awareness of past and future lottery investment in parks.I want to improve my local park. What should I do?
Most public parks are owned and managed by local authorities, so contacting their parks department is a good starting point. Parks also usually have ‘Friends’ groups which you can get involved with.Why do some parks get funding while other parks don’t?
HLF and BIG can only respond to applications which have been submitted. Competition for funding is fierce so only the best projects get approved. The way a community values the park as part of their heritage, the level of local involvement and need are among the criteria that must be satisfied for a successful application.What are the categories for the 2009 competition?
For 2009, there will be one winner from each region and country plus three special category winners. The special categories are:- People at Play
- Wildlife
- Heritage