Photography competition 2024

Each Individual entrant can submit a maximum of five entries, distributed among the five categories. No single image may be entered into more than one category. Please ensure each image is no more than 10MB in size.

Entrants are required to provide their full name and email address. We request this personal data for the purpose of the administration of the photography competition. This data will be processed and stored in a secure manner and will only be kept for the duration of the Dorset Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2024, unless stated otherwise. We will store the data of the winners in order to make contact and to facilitate the award of prizes.

Entrants under the age of 16 years need to have consent of a parent or guardian to enter, and must provide the email address of said parent or guardian.

All images submitted to the 2024 Photography Competition may be used by Dorset Wildlife Trust on their social media accounts, associated local, regional, national or international press releases and media, as well as on their website, publications, internal and external exhibitions associated with The Trust and future promotional materials to promote the Trust’s work. Copyright will always remain with the photographer and Dorset Wildlife Trust will make every reasonable effort to ensure that name credits of entrants are reproduced on images published in online and printed publications.

All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them. It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that any images they submit have been taken with the permission of the subject (where necessary) and do not infringe the copyright of any third party. Entrants must warrant that the photograph they are submitting is their own work and that they own the copyright for it.

The welfare of the wildlife subject is more important than the photograph itself. If entries are found to have evidence of undue disturbance or stress inflicted on wildlife in the process of taking the photograph, the entrant will be disqualified. Please avoid damaging habitat or disturbing wildlife in search of the perfect shot. 

Events may occur that render the competition impossible due to reasons beyond the control of Dorset Wildlife Trust and accordingly Dorset Wildlife Trust may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the promotion. The entrant must agree that no liability shall attach to Dorset Wildlife Trust as a result thereof.

All information detailing how to enter this competition forms part of these terms and conditions. It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the entrant agrees to abide by these rules.

Submission of an entry will be taken to mean acceptance of these terms and conditions.

If you have any problems uploading your images or you have any further questions about the Dorset Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2024, please email us on comms@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Our expert judging panel will consist of:

• Leo Henley Lock, Countryside Manager at National Trust 
• Dorset Wildlife Trust Wild Woodbury Ranger, Daisy Meadowcroft
• Two Young Journalists representing Dorset Local Nature Partnership and Dorset Wildlife Trust

All images will be anonymised when being judged by our panel.

The overall winner of the 2024 Photography Competition will receive a one-night stay (double room with breakfast included) at the beautiful Alexandra Hotel and Restaurant, situated in Lyme Regis.  

The four winners of each remaining category will then be ranked in second, third, fourth and fifth place and allocated the following prizes;

Second place: two tickets to Sculpture by the Lakes.

Third place: a £50 voucher to spend at Holme for Gardens. 

Fourth place: An Original Mini Recycled Backpack from Blue Panda.

Fifth place: a private tour of the Dorset Beaver Project site.

The winner selected from the junior category will receive a guided family tour of our exciting community rewilding project, Wild Woodbury.  

The runner-up photo from each of the four categories will also feature in the winter edition of our Dorset Wildlife magazine and on our photography competition page, alongside the winning photos, for all our members and supporters to enjoy.

We're looking for a photo taken on any of Dorset Wildlife Trust's scenic nature reserves capturing the beauty of the landscape. Whether it's the rolling hills of Fontmell Down or the stunning wildflowers that carpet Kingcombe Meadows, we want to see your most scenic, showstopping photos of our nature reserves.

A shot of people out and about enjoying nature, ideally on one of our nature reserves! This could involve your partner wondering through woodlands or a stroll along the river with your friends. We want to see a connection with nature captured by you. 

Does your garden play host to beautiful butterflies and other pollinators? Do you own an allotment visited by curious robins? Or perhaps your urban green space attracts a photogenic fox! We want to see photos of nature thriving in your green space - from rural to urban, no matter how big or small.

Whether it's a hungry heron with its catch, an adder basking in the summer sun or red squirrels on the run, we want to see your most striking photos of wildlife doing what wildlife does best. 

Last year we received some incredible photos of marine wildlife, so we decided to make it a new category for 2024. We recognise that not everyone will own a professional underwater camera, so we want to open it up to all things marine and coastal. From wonderful wading birds to remarkable rockpool creatures, there's so much to be seen and snapped by the sea! 

Please note that entrants aged 18 and under can submit their photo to any of the five categories above. However, these entrants will be judged as a separate 'junior' category, and one winner will be selected. Remember that entrants under the age of 16 years need to have consent of a parent or guardian to enter.