Young artists take a winning leaf out of Britain's history

The future of Britain is green, if the results of a children's painting competition are anything to go by.

The National Trust's Painting Places competition challenged children to paint a favourite site that they would love to see saved for the future and nearly two-thirds of the 12,000 who entered chose stretches of coast or countryside. Many of the children, aged between four and 15, added an explanation of why their favourite site was so special.

Winners of the competition, which is sponsored by the Yorkshire Building Society and supported by the Vivien Duffield Foundation, will be announced today on BBC television's children's art programme, SMart. Their prizes will include National Trust gift vouchers and CD-Roms.

A selection of the winning entries will be displayed on the London Underground and metro rail networks in Tyneside and Manchester. Among those whose paintings were highly commended were Holly Mitchell, 10, and Frankie Patry, nine, both pupils at Hartfield primary school, East Sussex.