Photography is a great way to capture a moment and to get outside and connect with nature, and to celebrate this we host a photo competition each year.
This year we shook it up with some new categories and twists on the classics. Adults could enter macro moments, connecting to nature, comedy snaps, my favourite nature reserve and wildlife encounters, while budding photographers aged 16 or younger took part in the wild youth category.
Thank you to everyone that has entered our previous years photo competitions - there have been some truly incredible submissions. Take a look at the galleries of entries below, they'll be sure to inspire you to grab your camera and head outside.
Click the (i) icons to find the image credit, or on the photos themselves to find comments from the judging panel and where the photo placed in the categories.
Wildlife photography best practices
Be careful with using flash
Lots of cameras and phones will automatically turn flash on when the light conditions decrease, so be mindful of this before taking photos. Wildlife can be very sensitive to light, and many can be scared or even temporarily blinded by the sudden flash of light. If the light conditions aren’t good, a night vision camera is your best bet.
Be mindful of where you are walking
It is best to stick to designated paths or tracks when out on our reserves to minimise any damage to habitats or disturbing wildlife that are used to no footfall in their patch.
Keep a low profile
Keep your distance and don't get too close - this is especially important when the wildlife you are photographing has any young with them.
Are you photographing a protected species?
If you are looking to photograph and specific species, look up its protected status before heading out. There are laws that protect certain species, disturbing them during breeding seasons can impact their success rate of raising young and can be seen as a criminal offence.
Don't use lures
Avoid use food to bait wildlife into coming closer, playing calls to birds, or similar behaviour. Just be patient and quiet and the wildlife will come to you!
Remember, the welfare of the wildlife should come first.
The category winners
Congratulations to:
Overall winner, Chris Newton
Wild youth winner, Hope
Comedy snaps winner, David Adamson
Connecting to nature winner, Amy Gatley
Macro moments winners , Roger Cope and Stuart Williams
My favourite nature reserve winner, David Elder
The runners up and highly commended entries
Congratulations to Tim Adams, Ian Bishop, Katherine Boon, Claire Cohen, David Elder, Penny George, Ritchie George, Sophie Harris, Rachel Hayward, Thomas Hill, William Lambourne, Rose Lennard, Sam McStravick, Alfie Owen, Caroline Richardson and Stuart Williams.
The category winners
Congratulations to:
Overall winner, Aleksander Domanski
Wildlife close up winner, Mike Barby
On your doorstep winners, Mark Halling and Aleksander Domanski
Juniors winners, William Lambourne and Alfie Owen
My Wild Life winner, Kate Young
Out on the reserves winner, Adam Smith
The runners up and highly commended entries
Congratulations to Jasmine Bell, Mark Cox, Aleksander Domanski, Sophie Harris, William Lambourne, Tony Rogers, Julia Sharpe, Sophie Shone, Terry Stevenson, Anthony James Wojcik and Kate Young.
The category winners
The category winners
Congratulations to:
Birds of Gloucestershire winner, Russell Discombe
Wildlife close up winner, Michael Sensier
On your doorstep winner, Jamie Harvey
Juniors winner, Theo Stowell
My Wild Life winner, Jo Lawrence
Out on the reserves winner, Katherine Boon
The runners up and highly commended entries
Congratulations to Dave Abraham, Annelliese Ball, Paul Bennell, Joshua Bond, Harry Burgess, Susan Cook, Mark Cox, Russell Discombe, David Edwards, Tom Edwards, Esther Freeman, Rhea Gray, Alasdair Hills, Ben Hirst, Kitty Juggins, Jonathan Mercer, Chris Newton, Alfie Owen, Lucy Pullin, Sue Sharp, Emily Sherwood, Adam Smith, Terry Stevenson, Eden Tanner, Alexander Watts and Hugo Whately.