Over the last few months it has been heartening to see so many people enjoying nature during lockdown. Social media has been full of images of wildlife in gardens and parks.

Sometimes people have reported seeing animals and plants that they have never seen in their gardens before, often because they are usually busy doing other things or away from home for work and have not had the time. 

If you’ve been taking some great photos recently, or need a good excuse to get out with your camera, then why not enter Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Photography Competition? Entry is free, and donations are very welcome to support the work of Suffolk Wildlife Trust. 

Here are the categories: 

• Young photographer – Under 12 years old 
British Wildlife 

• Young photographer – 12-18 years old 
British Wildlife 

• Comedy and Photo Fails 
Who can make our judges laugh the most? 

• Simply Suffolk 
Photoscapes which portray the uniqueness and distinctiveness of Suffolk’s natural beauty 

• Strictly Come Wildlife 
Wildlife in action. Particular attention will be given to portraits or other images framed to suit a front cover or full-page main feature of a wildlife supplement. 

• Eastern Angles 
Wildlife structure and forms, patterns and textures from an abstract or illustrative viewpoint, or wildlife from an artistic perspective that inspire new ways of seeing or challenging familiar views. 

• Unearthed 
Wildlife requiring soil, sand, rock or other substrates from which to live, grow or obtain its nourishment. 

• Out-of-sight Suffolk 
Revealing wildlife normally hidden to the human eye due its size, obscurity, popularity, lifecycle or habitat. 

• On the doorstep 
The image must be taken within 300 metres of where you live and should celebrate the wildlife that plays a part in your day to day life. 

Michael Strand, Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Community Fundraising Manager comments: 

“Have you ever wondered who wins wildlife photography competitions? The answer is straight forward. Those who enter! Over the past decade I have lost track of the number of overall competition winners, category winners, runners up and highly commended awards given out by our judges to first-time competition entrants. Those receiving their awards (this year a £300 cash first prize) often recount how it was a friend or family member that encouraged them to enter as they had always felt their images weren’t good enough! So, come on. No excuses. We’re spending more time outside and noticing the natural world and what it gives us a whole lot more this year. Perhaps it’s time to capture, share and celebrate the wildlife which get your creative juices flowing.”  

More information on the competition, including how to enter can be found here: www.suffolkphotography.org 

Entries close at midday on Monday 2nd November with a prize-giving awards evening on Friday 4th December 2020. Good luck!