Wildlife Photography Competition
Back to all articlesThis spring, we invited nature lovers and photographers of all ages to take part in our first-ever Wildlife Photography Competition – and we’ve been blown away by your talent.
We are excited to announce that the competition winners will be revealed at 12:30pm on 19th July 2025, during the Kendal Nature Recovery Festival - so don’t miss it!
From night skies and garden birds to serene fells and buzzing meadows, your photos captured the natural beauty all around us. Up to 50 entries will be selected for a special exhibition at the festival, and others will be featured in a slideshow during the event.
Be sure to come along, take a look and celebrate the incredible wildlife we share this place with.
A huge thank you to everyone who entered – your photos are a reminder of why protecting nature matters. Keep your cameras (and binoculars) ready – we’ll be back with next year’s competition!
The results of our Wildlife Photography Competition were announced at our Nature Recovery Festival on 19th July, along with the People's Vote.
Garden and Park
1st- Crab Spider's Prominent Stare by Daniel Peters
2nd- Sizergh Castle Gardens by Mark Hetherington
3rd- Alive Waters by Lily Ramsbottom
4th- What You Looking At? by Robert Folder
5th- Crummock Bank Farm Sunflower by Mark Hetherington
Judge's comments
Brave Step by Mae Grimaldi
“Armoured, strong and invincible—but with such beautiful colours”
Carol Davies
No Mow May and Beyond! by Lisbeth Tuckey
“An unusual and thoughtful collage effect. The message behind the image epitomiises Natural Kendal.”
Nicola Fearnley
Sweet Treat by Pamela Doran
“The image summons up a day in the garden. The marmalade hoverfly migrates here, to feed on our flowers.”
Chris Winnick
Having Lunch by Robert Folder
“We like to feed our birds in the garden—That’s what the Sparrow Hawk is doing!”
Rob Petley-Jones
Holy Pigeon by Anton Poon
“I love the bokeh that creates the halo around the pigeon.”
Jonny Gios
River and Bay
1st- Redshank Take Flight by Dave Oy Green
2nd- Blelham Tarn by David Rippin
3rd- The Otter and the Heron by Sav Smith
4th- Passing By by David Rippin
5th- The King's Gift by Simon Roberts
Judge's comments
Dipper Lift Off by Simon Roberts
“This catches the vibrancy of these tiny birds, skimming the surface of the river. They are part of our landscape.”
Carol Davies
Oystercatcher At Hightide by Dave Oy Green
“A good example of bird stoicism. The image also shows the vibrancy of the natural environment.”
Rob Petley-Jones
Evening Swim by Mark Meth-Cohn
“I like the way they have a synchronised poise. The white on black is dramatic”
Chris Winnick
Dipper In Fight by Simon Roberts
“Suspended between water and sky. This is a really difficult shot to capture in focus.”
Jonny Gios
A Time For Otter Reflection by Anne Kelly
“The abstract effect of the light on the water is beautiful. The otter is the icing on the cake”
Nicola Fearnley
Sky and Night
1st- Castle Neowise Comet by Richard Davies
2nd- Blea Tarn Aurora by Mark Hetherington
3rd- Scroggs Lane by Joe Gaskell
Moor and Mountain
Meadow and Grassland
1st- Untitled (Bee) by Robert Folder
2nd- Inquisitive Hare by Mark Meth-Cohn
3rd- Red Deer in the Rain by Mark Meth-Cohn
4th- Bug All Aglitter by Anne Kelly
5th- Last Rays by Mark Meth-Cohn
Judge's comments
Mating Common Blue Butterflies by Mark McKeown
“I love the colours. It’s a peaceful, gentle picture”
Carol Davies
On the Hunt by Mark Meth-Cohn
“The stillness of the body and the ‘killing machine’ mission written all over its face. A vole’s eye view. That vole wouldn’t have survived!”
Chris Winnick
A Brief Landing by Mae Grimaldi
“The gorse spikes point to the sharp subject. The background is thrown out of focus”
Jonny Gios
Brimstone Butterfly by Mark McKeown
“A great example of leaf camouflage. The green and purple colours complement each other.”
Nicola Fearnley
Flowering Heather by Mark Meth-Cohn
“They are endemic to our heather moorlands. There is an alertness to the bird.”
Rob Petley-Jones
Woodland
1st- Woodland Bodyguard by David Rippin
2nd- Catch Me If You Can by Richard Davies
3rd- Stoat on the Lookout by Mark Meth-Cohn
4th- Scalycaps under the Canopy by David Peters
5th- Fresh Greens, Mist and Warmth by David Rippin
Judge's comments
Bluebells 2 by Mark Hetherington
“The lighting makes it for me—almost a ridge and furrow effect”
Chris Winnick
Parenthood Sucks by David Thompson
“This image shows the determination of adult birds to feed their young.”
Rob Petley-Jones
Lichen Growing on a Stone in a Woodland in Wild Haweswater
“There are extensive lichen collections in the Museum. It’s like a woodland in miniature.”
Carol Davies
Cumbrian Red by Edyta Rice
“I felt we needed a print of a red. This one is characterful, has a nice background and no artificial food!”
Nicola Fearnley
Mystical Woodland Floodplain by Aaron Christie
“The river has lovely leading lines here, with the sun breaking through the trees.”
Jonny Gios
People's Vote
During the morning of the Nature Recovery Festival, attendees had the opportunity to cast their vote for their favourite photograph.
The results were counted and announced along with the results of the Wildlife Photography Competition.
The people voted for 'The Otter and the Heron' by Sav Smith.
Comments left by attendees
Lovely close ups, nature working
Great to see nature at its Best
What a beautiful exhibition showing all aspects of local natural history
Amazing series of photographs – well done everyone
Stunning! Well done and thank you – so uplifting.
Fantastic display of skill and talent with a camera as well as printed photos, slideshow and information. More publicity needs to focus on encouraging visitors … next time.
Beautiful photos, very talented photographers!
Lovely photos thanks for sharing them. All God’s wonderful creation!
These are great, thanks for the display.
Absolutely amazing photographs – a wonderful variety, thankyou.
