Photo Competition

Sussex Wildlife Trust Photography Competition judges, local wildlife expert and professional photographer David Plummer alongside wildlife photographer Lisa Saw, recently faced the challenge of selecting just 12 finalists from hundreds of truly outstanding entries. We're thrilled to announce that the shortlist has now been revealed.

Voting is now closed, we will announce the winner in mid-November. 

Thank you to everyone who took part.

The theme for 2025 is Our Nature Reserves

This year we're looking for twelve striking images that showcase the wild beauty found in Sussex Wildlife Trust's nature reserves.

From high on the Downs, deep in the woods, or out along the windswept coast - we want to see images that help us all see our reserves with fresh eyes.

Entries can be focused on a landscape, or on individual species held within it, and can be taken in any of our publicly accessible reserves.

(Find our where our reserves are, and how to get to them, here)

What do I win?

The First Prize is £100 cash

The Runners Up Prize is a T-shirt from Sussex Wildlife Trust's Clothing Store

Judges' prize for Best Young Photographer (under 25 years) £50 cash + a T-shirt from Sussex Wildlife Trust's Clothing Store

The final 12 photographs will feature in our online calendar, and the overall winning image will feature in Wild Sussex magazine, our weekly enews, and on the Sussex Wildlife Trust’s website and social media. The winning photographer and Best Young Photographer will also be offered the chance to take over the Sussex Wildlife Trust's Instagram account for a week.

What are the rules?

Photo comp format

The final 12 images will be selected by judges and the overall winner will be selected by a public vote.

How to enter?

Enter online only, and you can upload up to three photos.

Enter here

Closing date is the end of Wednesday 01 October 2025

Who are the judges?

This year we are fortunate to have professional wildlife photographer David Plummer and wildlife photographer Lisa Saw to choose the final 12 images for the public vote and the Best Young Photographer.

Cormorant at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve © Tim Nightingale
© Tim Nightingale
Time Δ Debug Message - Perch Runway 3.2
1791294923.29870 [907] SELECT p.pagePath, pr.routePattern, pr.routeRegExp, p.pageTemplate, pr.routeOrder, s.settingValue AS siteOffline FROM swt_pages_staging p LEFT JOIN swt_page_routes pr ON p.pageID=pr.pageID LEFT JOIN swt_settings s ON s.settingID='siteOffline' UNION SELECT NULL AS pagePath, pr2.routePattern, pr2.routeRegExp, pr2.templatePath AS pageTemplate, pr2.routeOrder, NULL AS siteOffline FROM swt_page_routes pr2 WHERE templateID!=0 ORDER BY routeOrder ASC, pagePath ASC
1791294923.34240.0437Matched route: photos
1791294923.34260.0002Server address: 216.73.217.150
1791294923.34270.0001Using master page: /templates/pages/landing_page.php
1791294923.34270Page arguments: 
Array
(
    [0] => /photos
)
1791294923.3430.0003 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/photo-competition' LIMIT 1
1791294923.34560.0026 [86] SELECT DISTINCT settingID, settingValue FROM swt_settings WHERE userID=0
1791294923.34860.003 [1] SELECT locationID FROM swt_shop_tax_locations WHERE locationIsHome=1 LIMIT 1
1791294923.35180.0032INSERT INTO swt_shop_cart(memberID,locationID,currencyID,cartPricing,cartProperties) VALUES(NULL,'1',47,'standard','[]')
1791294923.35840.0066 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=25052110
1791294923.35970.0013 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=25052110
1791294923.36090.0012 [nil] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_sales WHERE saleFrom<='2026-10-06 13:55:00' AND saleTo>'2026-10-06 13:55:00' AND saleActive=1 AND saleDeleted IS NULL ORDER BY saleOrder ASC
1791294923.36220.0013 [2] SELECT regionKey, regionHTML FROM swt_content_regions WHERE regionPage='/discover/photo-competition' OR regionPage='*' ORDER BY regionPage DESC
1791294923.36550.0033 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/photo-competition' OR pageSortPath='/discover/photo-competition' LIMIT 1
1791294923.36790.0024 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageID=1764 LIMIT 1
1791294923.36930.0014 [250] SELECT country, countryID FROM swt_shop_countries WHERE countryActive=1 ORDER BY country ASC
1791294923.37140.0021Using template: /templates/pages/attributes/seo.html
1791294923.3720.0006 [1] SELECT regionID, regionTemplate, regionPage, regionRev AS rev FROM swt_content_regions WHERE regionKey='Banner image' AND (regionPage='/discover/photo-competition' OR regionPage='*')
1791294923.37320.0011 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, c.regionID, idx.pageID, c.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_content_index idx JOIN swt_content_items c ON idx.itemID=c.itemID AND idx.itemRev=c.itemRev AND idx.regionID=c.regionID JOIN swt_content_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE ((idx.regionID=979 AND idx.itemRev=19)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, pageID, itemJSON, sortval, regionID ORDER BY sortval ASC
1791294923.37750.0044 [82] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageDepth >=0 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1791294923.38310.0056 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/photo-competition' LIMIT 1
1791294923.3850.0019 [3] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-005-006', '000-003-005', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1791294923.38860.0036Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template.html
1791294923.38870.0001 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1791294923.38980.0012 [4] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1791294923.39060.0008 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1791294923.3940.0034 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1791294923.39520.0012 [7] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1791294923.39610.0009 [9] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1791294923.39910.003 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/photo-competition' OR pageSortPath='/discover/photo-competition' LIMIT 1
1791294923.40570.0066 [2] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageHidden=0 AND pageNew=0 AND pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-005-006', '000-003-005', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition
1791294923.40950.0038 [2] Using template: /templates/navigation/breadcrumbs.html
1791294923.410.0006 [1] SELECT regionID, regionTemplate, regionPage, regionRev AS rev FROM swt_content_regions WHERE regionKey='Body Content' AND (regionPage='/discover/photo-competition' OR regionPage='*')
1791294923.41150.0014 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, c.regionID, idx.pageID, c.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_content_index idx JOIN swt_content_items c ON idx.itemID=c.itemID AND idx.itemRev=c.itemRev AND idx.regionID=c.regionID JOIN swt_content_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE ((idx.regionID=980 AND idx.itemRev=125)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, pageID, itemJSON, sortval, regionID ORDER BY sortval ASC
1791294923.41550.0041 [1] Using template: /templates/content/mixed_content.html
1791294923.41570.0002Using sub-template: /templates/content/text_block.html
1791294923.41580Using sub-template: /templates/content/thumbnails.html
1791294923.41580Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1791294923.41590Using sub-template: /templates/content/gallery.html
1791294923.41590Using sub-template: /templates/content/video.html
1791294923.41590Using sub-template: /templates/content/ask_inline.html
1791294923.4160Using sub-template: /templates/content/legacy_request_form.html
1791294923.4160Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1791294923.4160Using sub-template: /templates/content/code_block.html
1791294923.41610Using sub-template: /templates/content/customisable_donate_form.html
1791294923.41610Using sub-template: /templates/content/contact_form.html
1791294923.41630.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/details.html
1791294923.41640.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1791294923.41650.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1791294923.41650.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1791294923.41660Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1791294923.41660Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1791294923.41670Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1791294923.41670Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1791294923.41670 [2] Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1791294923.42390.0072Using template: /templates/pages/attributes/default.html
1791294923.4240.0001Using sub-template: /templates/pages/attributes/seo.html
1791294923.42420.0001Using template: /templates/pages/attributes/default.html
1791294923.42430.0001Using sub-template: /templates/pages/attributes/seo.html
1791294923.42440.0001 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/what-we-do' OR pageSortPath='/what-we-do' LIMIT 1
1791294923.42750.0031 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-002' LIMIT 1
1791294923.42910.0016 [7] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-002%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1791294923.43330.0042 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/photo-competition' LIMIT 1
1791294923.43530.002 [3] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-005-006', '000-003-005', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1791294923.43910.0038 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1791294923.440.0009 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
1791294923.44170.0016 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
1791294923.44280.0011 [38] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1791294923.44680.004 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/photo-competition' LIMIT 1
1791294923.44850.0017 [3] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-005-006', '000-003-005', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1791294923.45180.0032 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1791294923.45640.0047 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/visit' OR pageSortPath='/visit' LIMIT 1
1791294923.45790.0015 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-004' LIMIT 1
1791294923.45890.001 [30] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-004%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1791294923.46270.0038 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/photo-competition' LIMIT 1
1791294923.4650.0022 [3] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-005-006', '000-003-005', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1791294923.46880.0038 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1791294923.4730.0042 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
1791294923.47440.0014 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
1791294923.47560.0012 [11] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1791294923.48040.0047 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/photo-competition' LIMIT 1
1791294923.48240.0021 [3] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-005-006', '000-003-005', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1791294923.4860.0036 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1791294923.48720.0012Request time: 0.192
1791294923.48720Process time: 0.1918
1791294923.48720Memory: 1.6258