Essex Wildlife Trust’s annual photography competition is now open for public submissions until midnight, 30 November.

With last year’s competition receiving almost 1,000 entries, the Trust is inviting the public to share their images of Essex’s wildlife and habitats taken in 2022.

Entrants can submit a maximum of three images across the six available categories. This year, the Trust has introduced a new category, with a marine focus. Titled ‘Coastal Captures’, the Trust is encouraging the public to capture and celebrate the 350-mile-long coastline that Essex offers, and all the wildlife that lives along it.    

Alongside the new addition, the public can compete via the following returning categories:

• A Wildlife Motion Picture – Images that capture movement within the natural world.
• Captivating Colours– Images that portray Essex in all its technicoloured glory.
• Gardener’s World – Images taken in your Essex garden.
• Wilder Essex – Images that capture wildlife in the urban environment. 
• Young Blood – Images taken by participants aged 6-16 only.
• Coastal Captures (NEW) – Images that celebrate Essex’s coast, above and below the water.

The overall winner will be decided by public vote and will be announced in December. The category winners decided by a panel of judges will win a copy of the Essex Wildlife Trust 2024 calendar including their image, and the overall winner will receive £200.

Lauren Cosson, Communications Officer for Essex Wildlife Trust, said:

“Our photography competition is great reason to spend more time out in nature. Whether you are visiting a nature reserve, or exploring the wild visitors in your garden, we look forward to seeing how the public capture Essex’s wild side. By taking part, you can help us promote the beauty of Essex’s county, and the wildlife that lives here, so we can better protect and conserve it for the future.”

Enter the competition here 

The competition is proudly sponsored by High Chelmer Shopping Centre.