2008 Urban and Garden Wildlife - Winner
Jamie McGregor Smith (United Kingdom)
New occupant
'Gaining access to this derelict room symbolised the adversity overcome by this plant. As I peered in and saw the fresh fern fronds, backlit by sunshine streaming through the window, its colour and sense of life seemed exaggerated by the room's grim, drab appearance. Against all odds the fern was thriving, gaining nourishment from the decomposing floorboards.' Ferns, along with lichens and mosses, are often the first plants to colonise new or harsh environments. They grow in sites that sometimes aren't ready for flowering plants, shrubs or trees because of poor soil or a lack of nutrients. By creating soil as they decompose, ferns change the local environmental conditions, making them more suitable for other plant species to follow.
Canon EOS 20D + Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS lens; 8 secs at f22; ISO 100.
Search the online gallery
Enter a keyword to search for images from the 2008 competition
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine.