The Best of British Wildlife Photography: 2025 Winners Announced

Red Grouse Coming In To Land | ©Ben Hall, Yorkshire Dales National Park, UK/ British Wildlife Photography Awards.

Words by British Wildlife Photography Awards
IG: @bwpawards
WB: https://www.bwpawards.org/
Covered by Conker Nature Magazine Team
IG: @conkernaturemagazine

First Published: 19th March 2025 at 12:01 AM GMT

The winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2025 have been unveiled. An image of a red fox on patrol through the Bristol city centre has taken the top prize in this prestigious award.

---

Urban Explorer | ©Simon Withyman, Bristol, England/ British Wildlife Photography Awards | @eatsleepfoxrepeat

Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025

The Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 was awarded to 9-year-old Jamie Smart for her beautiful image of a curlew amongst dandelions in the early morning light.

British Nature At Its Best

“The British Wildlife Photography Awards continues to showcase the extraordinary beauty and diversity of Britain’s natural world,” says Will Nicholls, Director of BWPA. “This year’s competition not only celebrates the artistry and dedication of our photographers but also serves as a powerful reminder of our responsibility to protect these wild spaces. We hope this collection inspires others to appreciate, respect, and safeguard the wildlife that makes Britain so unique.”

More than 13,000 images were submitted into this year’s competition, with amateur and professional photographers competing for the £3,500 grand prize.

The British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) is a revered showcase of nature photography in Britain and a crucial reminder of what value our woodlands, wetlands and other ecosystems still hold.

British Wildlife Photographer of The Year 2025

Simon Withyman was chosen as this year’s grand prize winner for his image.

“I had been photographing this vixen for three years,” says Withyman. “This streetwise fox was a successful mother and had a family of young mouths to feed. I was instantly drawn to the interesting perspective effect of these railings and wanted to showcase some beauty in this everyday urban scene.”

Curlew O’clock | ©Jamie Smart, Wiltshire, England/ British Wildlife Photography Awards.

Photographers competed in 10 different categories in the adult competition: Animal Behaviour, Animal Portraits, Botanical Britain, Black & White, British Seasons, Coast & Marine, Habitat, Hidden Britain, Urban Wildlife, and Wild Woods. There were 3 age groups in the young competition: 11 and Under, 12-14 years, and 15-17 years.

All awarded images are published by Bird Eye Books in a hardback coffee-table book, which is now available online at bwpawards.org, with a foreword by actress and writer Evanna Lynch.

The 2026 competition is now open for entries at bwpawards.org, and invites photographers of all experience levels to submit their photos of Britain’s nature at its best.

Discover all of the category winners below:

Animals Behaviour

Entries can show any aspect of wildlife behaviour or an action. This could be unusual, interesting, amusing or remarkable behaviour, or depict something familiar in a new light. Show the judges something they don’t know or haven’t seen before, or invite them to look again at what they thought they already knew.

BUTTERFLY FACE-OFF

Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria.
Bristol, England
John Waters
Category: Animals Behaviour.
WINNER

In a small block of deciduous woodland on the outskirts of Bristol, I wanted to photograph the aerial chases of the speckled wood butterfly. In spring, males stake out a sunny patch along a woodland path and will chase off any rival male that comes too close, usually spiraling up into the canopy. On this occasion, a prolonged chase occurred about 1.5m above the ground, and I was able to approach quite close to get several shots. I was extremely lucky with this image in that it shows the instant one of the butterflies has spun around to face its pursuer.

Canon 5D Mark III with Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe lens. 24mm; 1/4th second; ISO 320.

Butterfly Face-off | ©John Waters / British Wildlife Photography Awards

The Rain-Deer

Red Deer, Cervus elaphus.
Surrey, England
Paul Browning
Category: Animals Behaviour.
RUNNER-UP

At the end of September and up until December, I spend as much time as possible with the red deer, following them through all the stages of the rut in Bushy Park and Richmond Park in South England. After one of my social meet-ups with my Instagram friends, we were just getting ready to leave the park when the heavens opened! Instead of covering my camera, I saw the perfect opportunity to capture the pouring rain using a slower shutter speed than usual, hoping one of the stags would put on a show with a roar—and this was that moment! I love this photo not just for that reason, but also because my dad has it as his computer screensaver—he loves it so much!

Sony A1 with Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM lens. 400mm; 1/250th second; f/2.8; ISO 500

The Rain-Deer| ©Paul Browning / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Animal Portraits

The judges will be looking for an image that captures the character or spirit of the subject in an imaginative way; and expect to get a sense of the animal’s “personality” from the photograph. All species will be considered.

HARE IN MOTION

Brown Hare, Lepus europaeus.
Norfolk, England.
David Tipling
Category: Animal Portraits
WINNER.

The late artist Robert Gillmor created a beautiful linocut of a running hare, depicting the different positions a hare’s legs take as they run. I thought it would be interesting to recreate this piece of art in a photograph by using a slow shutter speed of 1/10 sec as a hare ran. It took many attempts, photographing hares as they moved up and down a field of winter wheat, but I finally achieved this image of a hare in motion.

OM System OM-1 with OM 150-600mm f/5-6.3 lens. 400mm; 1/10th second; f/6.1; ISO 200.

Hare In Motion | ©David Tipling / British Wildlife Photography Awards

RED GROUSE COMING IN TO LAND

Red Grouse, Lagopus lagopus.
Yorkshire Dales National Park, England.
Ben Hall
Category: Animal Portraits
RUNNER-UP.

I spent several days photographing the red grouse that frequent the Yorkshire moors. Positioned near a male grouse feeding on heather, I was focused on capturing its behavior when I noticed a second bird flying in. With just enough time to reposition myself, I managed to capture the moment it landed on the heather with its wings outstretched.

Canon 1D X Mark II with Canon EF 500mm f/4L lens. 500mm; 1/640th second; f/5.6; ISO 2,000.

Red Grouse Coming In To Land | ©Ben Hall / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Botanical Britain

This category includes botanical subjects photographed in Britain, including: trees, plants, flowers, fungi and algae. Capture the essence, beauty and diversity of the botanical world, whether close-up, macro or as part of a wider scene.

STREETLIT SNOWDROP

Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis.
Canterbury, England
Jacob J. Watson-Howland
Category: Botanical Britain
WINNER

Galanthus nivalis, the snowdrop, defies winter’s chill with remarkable adaptations, including proteins that act as natural antifreeze, allowing it to withstand subfreezing temperatures. Thriving in woodlands, parks, and urban environments, this botanical wonder is one of Britain’s earliest blooms. Its elegant form and modest flower signal the changing seasons. This image, taken under a city streetlight with a slow shutter speed, highlights the snowdrop’s resilience and unique adaptations to Britain’s unpredictable and changing climate.

Canon R6 with Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Contemporary lens. 600mm; 3.2 seconds; f/6.3; ISO 160.

Streetlit Snowdrop | ©Jacob J. Watson-Howland / British Wildlife Photography Awards

DELTA

Red Seaweed, Hypoglossum sp.
St Andrews Bay, Scotland
David Maitland
Category: Botanical Britain
RUNNER-UP

This red seaweed, washed up after a storm, reveals a network of strengthened cells arranged in a pattern of fine branches, resembling a river delta. The intricate details are brought to life under UV light, highlighting its delicate structure and natural beauty.

Sony A7R IV with 10x Microscope Objective. 1/13th second; ISO 100; stacked image.

Delta | ©David Maitland / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Black & White

Any images of British wildlife and landscapes are eligible. This includes all animals, plant life, underwater creatures and landscape subjects. The judges will be looking for creativity and innovation in the use of the medium.

GUILLEMOT KINGDOM

Guillemot, Uria aalge.
St Abbs, Scotland
Mark Kirkland
Category: Black & White
WINNER

Photographing guillemots underwater is a seasonal treat for divers. In early summer, they gather in vast numbers along the cliffs of the Berwickshire coast to breed. Often drawn to divers, it is believed they mistake the rising bubbles for their primary food source—shoals of tiny sand eels. Reaching the base of these towering cliffs is only possible by boat, and on this occasion, I set out from St Abbs. For over an hour, I remained in one spot among the kelp at a depth of eight metres, patiently waiting for their curiosity to take hold.

Nikon D500 with Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 Fisheye lens. 14mm; 1/160th second; f/14; ISO 160.

Guillemot Kingdom | ©Mark Kirkland / British Wildlife Photography Awards

PRIMITIVE WINTER

Red Deer, Cervus elaphus.
Cairngorms, Scotland
Mario Suarez Porras
Category: Black & White
RUNNER-UP

I photographed this group of deer in the Scottish Cairngorms in the middle of winter. By overexposing by four stops, I aimed to create a stark contrast between the deer and the snow, presenting an image with an artistic perspective. Strangely, it reminds me of the Great Hall of Polychromes in Altamira, a Spanish cave whose paintings were the first European cave artworks to be recognized and promoted as prehistoric in origin.

Canon 5D Mark IV with Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II lens. 400mm; 1/400th second; f/8; ISO 640

Primitive Winter | ©Mario Suarez Porras / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Coast & Marine

This includes the coast of the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, the Isles of Scilly and the hundreds of other islands around our shores bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel and the North Sea.
This does not include areas in the territory of Ireland.

BLUE SHARK

Blue Shark, Prionace glauaca.
Penzance, Cornwall, England
Nicholas More
Category: Coast & Marine
WINNER

This slow-shutter speed portrait of a blue shark was captured 10 to 15 miles southwest of Penzance, Cornwall. Blue sharks are summer visitors to UK waters, known for their bold and curious nature, often interacting with snorkelers. They primarily feed on small fish and squid and are easily attracted to boats using Rubby Dubby—a mixture of fish carcasses, oils, and bran. As apex predators, they are highly vulnerable to long-line fishing and, with no catch limits or quotas, are overexploited for their fins in the production of shark fin soup. These beautiful oceanic animals deserve our protection.

Nikon D850 with Nikon 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5 lens. 15mm; 1/8th second; f/20; ISO 80.

Blue Shark| ©Nicholas More / British Wildlife Photography Awards

THE SEAL CAVE

Grey Seal, Halichierus grypus.
Bardsey Island, Wales
Ben Porter
Category: Coast & Marine
RUNNER-UP

A young grey seal breaks the surface in the clear turquoise waters of a coastal cave on Bardsey Island, North Wales. This cave hosts up to 30 or more seals hauling out within its depths, accessing it through a hidden seaward passage beneath the water. Sitting quietly above offers a unique opportunity to observe their movements, behaviors, and remarkable vocalizations up close. Occasionally, the perfect combination of light, tide, and seal activity aligns to create an image like this—one of my favorites from my visits to this extraordinary site.

Canon 6D with Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L lens. 19mm; 1/60th second; f/4.5; ISO 2,000.

The Seal Cave | ©Ben Porter / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Habitat

The judges will be looking for an imaginative and original image that powerfully portrays the importance of the environment and ecosystems that sustain the wildlife within them. This can include animals, plants, and the relationships between them; for example a butterfly feeding on wild flowers or a barn owl hunting over rough grassland.

KINGDOM OF THE HARE

Mountain Hare, Lepus timidus
Highlands, Scotland
Drew Buckley
Category: Habitat
WINNER

After trudging through deep snow high in the Monadhliath Mountains, Scotland, I came across a single mountain hare hunkered down in its form. Sheltered from the bitterly cold wind, it remained still, perfectly adapted to its winter landscape. I spent some time capturing different scenes and focal lengths from a distance before moving on.

Canon 1D X with Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens. 47mm; 1/1,600th second; f/10; ISO 1,000.

Kingdom of the hare | ©Drew Buckley / British Wildlife Photography Awards

HUNTER, HUNTED

Sea Bass, Dicentrarchus labrax
Balaclava Bay, Portland, England
Sandra Stalker
Category: Habitat
RUNNER-UP

A sea bass hunts and patrols among the thong weed and kelp. This image was taken in a coastal area that, despite being close to shore, is only accessible by boat due to its proximity to a port. As a result, while snorkeling there, I observed large shoals of bass thriving undisturbed. Juvenile shoals indicated the site’s importance as a nursery, while larger, solitary bass hunted in the area. To capture this shot, I had to remain motionless in the water for about half an hour until the bass became accustomed to my presence, then move carefully. The poor visibility made it challenging to focus through the milky water without getting too close. After three hours of snorkeling, I managed to capture this single image of a head-on bass in hunting mode.

Sony A7R IVa with Sony FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 lens. 28mm; 1/100th second; f/20; ISO 1,000.

Hunter, Hunted| ©Sandra Stalker / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Hidden Britain

Reveal the secret universe that is life on a small scale – a life that is all around us but rarely seen. This category is for invertebrate animal species only.

ROOSTING DRAGONS

Broad-bodied chaser, Libellula depressa.
Ham Wall, England
Daniel Trim
Category: Hidden Britain
WINNER.

Each year in May, RSPB Ham Wall experiences a massive emergence of dragonflies, and if you arrive early enough, you can witness them roosting in the reeds in impressive groups. This particular group was climbing the reeds, preparing to warm up as the sun rose above the horizon. To create an ethereal feel, I used an in-camera double exposure—one frame sharply focused on the subject and another with a soft focus, blending detail with a dreamlike atmosphere.

Canon 5DS with Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II lens. 200mm; 1/1,600th second; f/2.8; ISO 800.

Roosting Dragons | ©Daniel Trim / British Wildlife Photography Awards

KOI

Cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae.
Thetford Forest, Norfolk, England
David Maitland
Category: Hidden Britain
RUNNER-UP.

Resembling goldfish or koi carp swimming in a pond, these are the wing scales of the cinnabar moth. Photographed under ultraviolet (UV) light, the scales that appear red in visible light fluoresce a vivid red under UV, while those that appear black in daylight do not fluoresce at all, remaining jet-black.

Sony A7R II with Olympus BX51 Microscope (200x Magnification). 1.3 seconds; ISO 100; stacked image.

Koi | ©David Maitland / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Urban Wildlife

Wherever we live, wildlife can be found alongside us in our towns and cities, parks, gardens and backyards. The judges are looking for an original image that shows wild animals or plants within an urban environment.

URBAN EXPLORER

Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes.
Bristol, England
Simon Withyman
Category: Urban Wildlife
CATEGORY AND OVERALL WINNER

For approximately three years, I had been photographing this vixen and was able to track her movements across the city. Surprisingly, she covered large distances, eventually moving over a mile away from her original parental territory. In the city, that means a lot of roads, hazards, and other fox territories to contend with. This streetwise fox was a successful mother and had a family of young mouths to feed. She would patrol the streets and the area near her den searching for food for herself and her young family. She would opportunistically hunt rodents and birds, as well as scavenge takeaway leftovers dropped on the floor. I wanted to capture a creative environment portrait as she went about her daily routine. I was instantly drawn to the interesting perspective effect of these railings and wanted to showcase some beauty in this everyday urban scene.

Canon R5 with Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens. 39mm; 1/400th second; f/2.8; ISO 640.

Urban Explorer | ©Simon Withyman / British Wildlife Photography Awards

BUS PASS

Swan, Cygnus olor.
Mitcham, England
Paul Goldstein
Category: Urban Wildlife
RUNNER-UP

A small South London pond provided an unexpected yet ideal setting for a swan study. A resident pair had nested there for years, successfully raising cygnets each spring. The cob ruled the water like a medieval baron, driving away all but the ducks—geese, crows, and other intruders were swiftly evicted. At times, he would even wander onto the main London road, stopping traffic as he stood watch over his family just inches from passing cars and lorries. Capturing this urban avian family required an early start and a unique approach—standing knee-deep in the pond’s thick mud before the fountain switched on, using a tripod, a long lens, a two-second delay, a slow shutter speed, and, of course, a passing bus.

Canon 1D X Mark II with Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II lens. 300mm; 1/20th second; f/5.6; ISO 100.

Bus Pass | ©Paul Goldstein / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Wild Woods

The judges will be looking for a winning image that celebrates the beauty and importance or sheer splendour of our British woods. Photographs must be clearly taken of or within woodland. Entries could be portraits of woodland wildlife, wooded landscapes, intricate details of plants, or show the relationships between species and forests.

STORM LIGHT OVER THE CALEDONIAN FOREST

Scots Pine, Pinus sylvestris.
Glen Strathfarrar, Scotland
James Roddie
Category: Wild Woods
WINNER

Stormy days in the Scottish Highlands often create incredible lighting conditions for photography. Venturing to a location I had never visited before, I was immediately drawn to the photographic potential of these old Scots pine trees. Braving heavy rain, I waited patiently, hoping for the right moment. My patience was rewarded when a sudden burst of light illuminated the trees perfectly, with a rainbow forming behind them—a fleeting but magical scene.

Nikon Z 7 with Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 lens. 28mm; 1/160th second; f/9; ISO 160.

Storm Light Over The Caledonian Forest | ©James Roddie / British Wildlife Photography Awards

FORKED BIRCH

Holme Fen
Cambridgeshire, England
Tim George
Category: Wild Woods
RUNNER-UP

This image was taken in ancient fen woodland, an hour after nightfall. It was set up in the last of the daylight and taken when it had become completely dark to the naked eye. The eight-minute exposure brought out the light in the sky. This was balanced with one batteryoperated portable tube light placed on either side of the tree and set, after experimentation, to 5500 Kelvin colour temperature and 2% light output. It was taken in winter using such subdued lighting in order to cause minimum disruption to flora and fauna.

Fujifilm GFX 100 with Fujifilm 20-35mm f/4 lens. 35mm; 480 seconds; f/8; ISO 100.

Forked Birch | ©Tim George / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Young British Wildlife Photographer Of The Year

The title of Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year is awarded to one of the winners of the three categories:

• 11 and under

• 12-14 years

• 15-17 years

Curlew O’clock

Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata.
Wiltshire, England
Jamie Smart
Category: Young British Wildlife Photography Awards
11 AND UNDER - WINNER

It was a very early morning start and a four-hour drive to try to get the early morning light on the plains. As the sun was just coming up over the hill, I noticed how it caught the dandelion clocks and lit them up like little fuzzy lamps everywhere. I was lining up my camera out of the car window, ready to capture a photo, when I heard a curlew nearby. I scanned the area to try to find where they were and found this one wading through the dandelions just in front of me.

Nikon Z 9 with Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 lens. 800mm; 1/1,250th second; f/6.3; ISO 720.

Curlew O’clock | ©Jamie Smart / British Wildlife Photography Awards

And Take Off - Gannets at Bass Rock

Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus.
Bass Rock, Scotland
Kiran Simpson
Category: Young British Wildlife Photography Awards
12 to 14 - WINNER

It was an incredible experience to spend my 13th birthday surrounded by the thousands upon thousands of gannets that populate Bass Rock. I was fortunate enough to capture a particularly special moment: a shard of light pierced through the cliffs just as a gannet was flying off to fish. It was a magical scene that made the day unforgettable – a birthday I’ll cherish forever.

Sony a1 with Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G lens. 600mm; 1/3,200th second; f/7.1; ISO 800.

And Take-off - Gannets at Bass Rock | ©Kiran Simpson / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Street Cleaners

Feral pigeon, Columba livia domestica.
Essex, England
Ben Lucas
Category: Young British Wildlife Photography Awards
15 to 17 - WINNER

When I found a packet of fries someone had abandoned, I knew that it wouldn’t be long until it attracted opportunistic pigeons. I set up a small GoPro camera in the back of the packet, and after some very weird looks from people passing by, the birds finally started to show up. As they approached the food, I triggered the camera with voice commands so I didn’t put the birds off their meal and I pulled off this shot. Our carelessness removes the natural food for many species and provides for others. These birds are truly the vultures of the streets.

GoPro HERO 8. 3mm; 1/350th second; f/2.8; ISO 100.

Street Cleaners | ©Ben Lucas / British Wildlife Photography Awards

DISCOVER MORE WILDLIFE