Peter Cairns's Image

The Insh Marshes National Nature Reserve in Scotland's Cairngorms National Park is one of Europe's most important wetlands.

Each winter, its main artery, the River Spey, spills onto the floodplain, submerging the vegetation and providing a winter refuge for migratory wildfowl. 'I was initially attracted to this scene by the perfect reflection of the tree trunks in the still floodwater,' says Peter, 'but it was the subtle green of the lichens and the purple-tinged buds that made the scene so beautiful. Willow, alder and birch come together in a seemingly chaotic way but are underwritten by perfect ecological order.'