Amidst the rubble and dust of the university's Big Build project, it is hard to imagine a photo competition based on biodiversity at Kingston Uni.
But this is what Green Shoots set out to do for the very first time in March this year.
Organised by KU's Sustainability Team as a contribution to Kingston's Paint The Town Green Festival, the photo competition comprised three categories, one of which was devised exclusively for KU students and staff.
Creative Writing student and aspiring photographer, Paige Sinkler, won the category, called University Biodiversity, after impressing the judge with her photo Sopwith Blossom.
Paige said: “I'm absolutely thrilled to have won. I am trying to build my career as a photographer, so any recognition helps with morale.
“I like the distinctive exterior of Sopwith building and the way you can just make out its green Xs in the background of the photo.
“And it made me realise how much effort has gone into making the campus a pleasant place to study.”
The competition was judged by BBC's green guru Brigit Strawbridge and also included the category People And Planet, which was claimed by another Kingston student, PCGE student Rebecca Holt, with her photo River Life.
The photo shows a shopping trolley in a river and Ms Strawbridge said it was the picture that most made her want to take action.
The Paint the Town Green category went to Tobias Burraway with Nothing Need Be Ugly, a photo showing a mosaic created and by Kingston arts environment charity Save The World Club.
The 43 entries were exhibited at Kingston Market Place for five days and Ms Strawbridge chose the winners at an awards ceremony on March 22.
Hannah Smith, Sustainability Projects Co-Ordinator at KU, and co-ordinator of the competition, said: “The competition was great fun and a wonderful experience.
“We wanted to combine environmental exploration with art and ask our staff and students to capture images of what they felt were 'green' or 'biodiverse' aspects of their local environment.
“It was a really great chance to boast the wildlife we can find on campus and use the artistic talents of our staff and students to do so.”
