Photography Competition 2025 Winners

The winning wildlife photographs from our competition all appear in our Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust Calendar 2026. Take a look at the gorgeous images our winners captured below. We hope they’ll inspire you to get snapping for next years competition!

Buy the 2026 Wildlife Calendar
© BrownHare2_JoshuaCopping

Winners of our Local Wildlife Photography Competition 2025

Showcasing the beauty of Sheffield and Rotherham’s wildlife and wild places.

Top 3:

This macro shot of an elephant hawk moth really shows off the vibrant pink and green of its furry body. It almost looks like a soft toy!
Elephant hawk moth by Luke Chambers.
This macro shot of an elephant hawk moth really shows off the vibrant pink and green of its furry body. It almost looks like a soft toy! This outstanding image was awarded 1st Place.
A sunburst shines through the trees of a wood in springtime, illuminating a carpet of purple bluebells and white wild garlic flowers
Moss Valley Woodlands by Wesley Kristopher.
A sunburst shines through the trees of a wood in springtime, illuminating a carpet of purple bluebells and white wild garlic flowers. This image was awarded 3rd Place.
A waxwing sits upon a branch with yellow fruit, almost as if waiting for a dining comapnion. The smudges of yellow and orange around its head are echoed in the background colours
Waxwing by Mireille Berthoud.
A waxwing sits on a branch with yellow berries, almost as if waiting for a dining companion. The smudges of yellow and orange around its head are echoed in the background colours. This image was awarded 2nd place.

The finalists:

A jay sits on a hawthorn branch in the snow. It's colourful feathers with a flash of blue provide a contrast to the mostly white background
Jay by Beverley van der Tuijn. A jay sits on a hawthorn branch in the snow. It’s colourful feathers with a flash of blue provide a contrast to the mostly white background
A red fox in the snow is looking straight at you with alert amber eyes, and has snow on its muzzle.
Red fox by Tim Russon. This red fox in the snow is looking straight at you with alert amber eyes.
This water vole looks at the camera, almost as if surprised to see you!
Water vole by Mireille Berthoud. This water vole looks at the camera, almost as if surprised to see you!
A fluffy yellow canada goose gosling looks at the camera.
Canada goose gosling, by Chris Brown. A fluffy yellow canada goose gosling looks at the camera.
A sunburst shines through the trees of a wood in springtime, illuminating a carpet of purple bluebells and white wild garlic flowers
Moss Valley Woodlands by Wesley Kristopher.
A sunburst shines through the trees of a wood in springtime, illuminating a carpet of purple bluebells and white wild garlic flowers.
Two large red damselflies on umbelifers of small white flowers are joined as they prepare to mate. The male clasps the female by the neck with his abdominal claspers.
Large red damselflies by Sam Newbould. Two large red damselflies on umbelifers of small white flowers are joined together..
This macro shot of an elephant hawk moth really shows off the vibrant pink and green of its furry body. It almost looks like a soft toy!
Elephant hawk moth by Luke Chambers. This macro shot of an elephant hawk moth really shows off the vibrant pink and green of its furry body. It almost looks like a soft toy!
A peacock butterfly with wings spread, showing the 'eyes'
Peacock butterfly by John Scholey. A peacock butterfly with wings spread, showing its ‘eyes’
A sparrowhawk shows off its cream and white underside plumage as it soars through the air. The bright yellow eye really stands out as it appears to gaze intently at its prey.
Sparrowhawk by Hüseyin Türkan. A sparrowhawk shows off its cream and white plumage as it soars through the air. Its bright yellow eye stands out as it hunts for prey.
A close-up image of a robin sitting on a lichen covered branch shows the detail of every feather, and a possible reflection of the photographer in its shiny black eye
Robin by Colin Cantle. A close-up image of a robin sitting on a lichen-covered branch shows the detail of every feather.
A waxwing sits upon a branch with yellow fruit, almost as if waiting for a dining comapnion. The smudges of yellow and orange around its head are echoed in the background colours
Waxwing, by Mireille Berthoud.
A waxwing sits on a branch with yellow fruit, almost as if waiting for a dining companion. The smudges of yellow and orange around its head are echoed in the background colours.
A kingfisher with bright blue and orange feathers is caught in a shaft of sunlight as it sits on a frosty alder branch
Kingfisher by Mireille-Berthoud. A kingfisher with bright blue and orange feathers sits on a frosty alder branch
A macro shot of a bumblebee in flight approaching a purple flower
COVER Bumblebee by Sam Newbould.
A bumblebee in flight approaching a purple flower

A hand holding a mobile phone taing a picture of a stream tumbling over rocks
© mobile phone photograph ©Will Porada


Inspired to enter next year’s competition?

You don’t need to be a professional photographer or have fancy equipment, just a keen eye for a great picture!

We love seeing all your wildlife images, from the humble earthworm to fantastic fungi, badgers to buzzards, and everything in between. We want to celebrate the nature and wildlife that can be found all around us, and

A quick tip: if you want to enter the competition in 2026, take high resolution photos in landscape orientation.

So whether you’re out and about on one of our nature reserves, in one of our towns, exploring the local countryside, or even in your own garden, keep your phone or camera handy to capture the action!


Don’t forget…

  • Do no harm – the welfare of the wildlife and the wild places always comes first
  • Don’t get too close – let birds feed their young, move on if they’re agitated or calling ‘at you’
  • Watch your feet – stay on paths (or within designated areas), don’t trample flowers to reach more flowers
  • Know the law – familiarise yourself with protected species and the laws that protect them
  • Know the lure – don’t use recordings to attract birds, they can disrupt their behaviour and risk the lives of chicks
© Young man taking a photograph in a nature park. © nikki_meel / Envato Elements
Young woman pointing a camera directly at the viewer whilst stood in a forest. © lzf / Envato Elements
© Young woman pointing a camera directly at the viewer whilst stood in a forest. © lzf / Envato Elements


Hints and Tips…

  • Wildlife happens everywhere! From gardens to nature reserves, you can see plants, insects, birds, mammals anywhere! Be ready to grab your phone or camera and take a snap!
  • Take lots of photos. See how many different species you can capture, and take plenty of shots to get the perfect photo.
  • Take your time. Patience will help you get the perfect shot, so relax and enjoy the nature around you as you await your subject.
  • Know your equipment. Familiarising yourself with the settings on your camera or phone will really help you maximise your images. From correctly focusing on the subject to selecting a shutter speed that will help with that action shot, every bit of info will help your photos.

But most importantly – have fun! Taking photographs of the natural world around you can be really rewarding. Whether you’re a beginner with a camera phone or a semi-pro with a huge camera, the point of this competition is to enjoy nature!