Amateur photographers and smartphone snappers gave the general public a difficult job in selecting their favourite wildlife images to vote on from the wonderful shortlist chosen by the competition’s judging panel. With an over-arching category of ‘General Wildlife’, species found in gardens proved to be particularly popular with voters this year, with three out of the four winners capturing their shots in their own backyard.

In the Adult Camera category, Lesley Fidell’s wonderfully detailed photo of a Honey Bee taken on a Ceanothus plant in her Watford back garden won the hearts of the public. Lesley captured the shot on a Nikon D7500 with a 105mm Macro lens. Winner of the Adult Smartphone category, Peter White fortunately had his iphone to hand when he spotted a distinctively-marked Wasp Spider in Stevenage’s Fairlands Valley Park. Peter’s focus was so good that no cropping or editing were needed to show off the Wasp Spider’s wild beauty.

Megan O’Callaghan, excelled in the Under 18’s Camera category, for her fabulous shot of a fast-moving Grey Squirrel, which she did well to freeze frame on her Canon EOS 90D, whilst her subject took a pause on a bird table in her garden. Jason Clayton got a great photo of a Common Carder Bee to win the Under 18’s Smartphone category - picture-perfect, the image needed no editing.

Trust Conservation Manager and Wild Snaps judge, Tim Hill is a keen photographer who has contributed many of his photos to a wide range of Trust publications over the past 20 years. Speaking about the competition and the outcome of the public vote, Tim said:

“The range of subjects photographed and entered into the competition reflect the wonderful diversity of wildlife we have in Hertfordshire and Middlesex. What’s interesting this year is that our winners have obviously taken a close view at the beauty that exists in nature within their own habitat and that which they use recreationally. It goes to prove that the natural world is something for us all to enjoy – the onus is now on us all to protect and conserve it as we work towards our strategy of 30% of land protected or managed for wildlife by 2030.

“Thank you to all of our Wild Snaps competition entrants and congratulations to our winners and those who made the shortlist for capturing their own very special encounters with our local wildlife and sharing the joy their photographs bring.”

All of the winning images will feature in Wildlife Matters, the Trust’s membership magazine. Additionally, prizes including wildlife watching equipment, donated by competition sponsors, Opticron, Smartphone Photography Workshops courtesy of Jet Black Squares, and sustainable gifts from Tommy & Lottie will be awarded to the competition winners.

Pete Gamby, Sales and Marketing Manager at Opticron, who has sponsored Wild Snaps since the competition began in 2020, said:

“For over 50 years, Opticron has been a supporter of wildlife conservation and we were very happy to support Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust with their Wild Snaps competition again this year. There have been some amazing entries showcasing the wonderful wildlife and habitats that grace these two counties. Well done indeed to all the prize winners.”

The winners’ photographs and all those shortlisted in the competition can be found on the Trust’s website, along with details of the shots provided by the photographers - https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/news/wild-snaps-photography-competition-2023