Our photo competition winners!

A kingfisher in a rainstorm, a mad march hare, atmospheric Broadland landscapes and a laughing seal pup make up just some of the fantastic winners in our photo calendar competition.

We launched the special competition in November last year to find the best images that showcase Norfolk’s wildlife and wild places. The winning images will appear in NWT’s Calendar for 2016 – our 90th Anniversary year. More than 350 entries were received covering the huge diversity of Norfolk’s wildlife and wild places.

The winning images were chosen by David Tipling, a renowned wildlife photographer; and Ben Garrod, BBC presenter and ambassador for Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Brendan Joyce said: “This is the first time we have run a photography competition for our annual calendar. As 2016 is Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s 90th year, we wanted to invite the public to get involved and help us show off the range and beauty of Norfolk’s wildlife and wild places. We are thrilled with the winning images, from Norfolk’s beautiful swallowtail butterfly to flowers and birds. They really exemplify why we have worked so hard for so long to protect our beautiful county, and will continue to do so.”

The overall winner from the twelve was Paul Richards (who features twice in the calendar) with his photo of a bearded tit on reeds. He receives our star prize: a personal North Norfolk Photo Safari with David Tipling, including lunch at NWT Cley Marshes visitor centre.

Judge David Tipling said: “I was very impressed with the high standard of entries for this competition. There were many entries that I would have loved to have taken myself and it was inevitably very hard to choose just twelve. In judging the competition I was looking for images where thought might have been given to both composition and lighting and importantly for me, the image had to have a ‘Norfolk feel’ to it.”  

Judge Ben Garrod, who is ambassador for NWT said: “This calendar is a celebration of a truly wild Norfolk, showing not only the diverse and beautiful wildlife found here but also revealing the intimate relationship we have with animals and our local environment. It was particularly hard to select the finalists – it appears that there are a lot of people dedicating time and effort to capturing great photos of wildlife in Norfolk. The next time you’re out and about, take your camera and see which magical wild moments you can record.”

The NWT 2016 calendar is now in production and will be available to buy from NWT visitor centres and via phone on 01603 625540 from mid-August.