CHESHIRE Wildlife Trust has announced the winners of its photography competition.
Budding photographers have been out and about capturing the region’s wildlife with the hope of seeing their snaps featured in the trust’s 2025 calendar.
In total, more than 360 images from across Cheshire, Warrington, Halton, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and the Wirral were submitted.
Award-winning wildlife photographer Ben Hall reviewed the entries and selected 12 winners and 12 runners-up, which will all feature in next year’s calendar.
He also picked an overall winner, 'Short-eared owl at Port Sunlight' taken by Peter Tarpey.
Rachel Bradshaw, digital content officer for Cheshire Wildlife Trust, who helped judge the entries with Ben, said: “As a photographer myself, it’s always so exciting to see what people have captured and the beauty and variety nature in Cheshire has to offer.
“This year’s entries are some of the best we’ve ever had!
“Our 2025 calendar features atmospheric landscapes, fabulous fungi and some iconic Cheshire species, like our winning photo which is a stunning shot of a short-eared owl in flight.
“We'd like to say a huge congratulations to our winning photographers and runners-up!”
She added: “Photography is one of many ways to experience nature.
“Really taking notice and soaking up wildlife and landscapes through a lens is a great way to connect ourselves more with nature.
“Our social media channels are a fantastic way to connect with us and show off your photographs.
“Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and YouTube. Tag us in your photos so we can see them!”
The 2025 Cheshire Wildlife Trust calendar will feature several images captured in Mid Cheshire.
Among them is Paul Wright's snap of a cormorant in Winsford and Steve Palmer's photo of great crested grebes at Lindow Common.
The calendar is available now to pre-order for £10.
All money raised will be used to aid the recovery of nature in Cheshire.
To pre-order a calendar, visit www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/shop.
Winners
- January - Fallow deer by Gordon Spruce, Dunham Massey
- February - Weed dance, by Sean Rooney, Poynton Pool
- March - European brown hare by Steven Allcock, Nantwich
- April - Red any by Peter Tarpey, Birkenhead
- May - Sedge warbler, Megan Stone, Dee Estuary
- June - The kiss (barn owls) by Tom Hale, Chester
- July - Swallow catching fly by Matt Mason, Cheshire
- August - Cormorant by Paul Wright, Winsford
- September - Female Kestrel by Matt Mason, Cheshire
- October - Fungi by Tony North, Macclesfield
- November - Spiders web by Louise Acton, Danes Moss
- December - Short-eared owl by Peter Tarpey, Port Sunlight (overall winner)
Runners up
- January - Frog by Mike Lavin, Cheshire
- February - Little egret by Megan Stone, Cheshire
- March - Great crested grebes by Steve Palmer, Lindow Common, Wilmslow
- April - Chiffcaff by Suzanne Butters, Cheshire
- May - Banded demoiselle by Lewis Butters, Cheshire
- June - Baby buzzards by Peter Wright, Mirrlees
- July - Blue-tailed damselfly by Tony North, Stockport
- August - Gosling by Steven Allcock, Crewe
- September - Kingfisher by Steven Allcock, Nantwich
- October - Autumn beeches by Mark O'Sullivan, Cheshire
- November - Swan by Julie Robinson, Burton Mere
- December - Dunham Massey Autumn by Chris Beesley, Dunham Massey
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