British Wildlife Photography Awards celebrates Scotland's scenery

The winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2023 have been unveiled.

More than 13,000 images were submitted into this year’s competition, with amateur and professional photographers competing for the £5,000 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.

Chris Page won British Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his image of a fox in the destroyed woodland. — ‘A Look to the Future?’ British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 and Winner of Urban Wildlife. Image: Charlie Page / British Wildlife Photography Awards

An image of a red fox moving through a woodland, destroyed to make way for an industrial site, has taken the top prize.

28-year-old Charlie Page was chosen as this year’s grand prize winner for his powerful
image taken in England.

Page said: “I knew this area was frequented by foxes, and I wanted to take an image with the industrial backdrop to show the devastation caused to this local woodland that the fox calls home.

“I hope that wildlife photographers aren’t faced with similar scenes in years to come.”

‘Hitching a Lift’ – Animal Behaviour | Winner. Common toad (Bufo bufo) Cromarty, Scotland. Image: James Roddie / 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 three age groups in the young competition: 11 and Under, 12-14 years, and 15-17 years.

A lone stag with hills in the background. — ‘Stag by the Loch Side’ – Habitat | Winner. Red deer (Cervus elaphus). Western Highlands, Scotland. Image: Neil McIntyre / British Wildlife Photography Awards

The RSPB Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 was awarded to Billy
Evans-Freke, for his image of a tawny owlet resting in a tree.

This award is supported by the RSPB with the aim of encouraging young people to get involved with nature.

‘Branching Out’ – RSPB Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 and 15-17 Years Winner. Tawny owl (Strix aluco). East Sussex, England. Image: Billy Evans-Freke / British Wildlife Photography Awards

“The talented photographers in this year’s competition have given us an exceptional
window into Britain’s nature,” says Will Nicholls, Director of BWPA.

“It’s an important reminder of the wildlife and wild spaces that still remain in the UK, and are in need of our care and protection.”

‘Forest Dawn’ – Wild Woods | Runner-up. Caledonian pine forest (Pinus sylvestris scotica Alba). Abernethy, Scotland. Image: Graham Niven / British Wildlife Photography Awards

All awarded images are published by Bird Eye Books in a hard-back coffee-table book,
which is available online at bwpawards.org, with a foreword by Dame Judi Dench.

The 2024 competition is also open for entries at bwpawards.org, and invites
photographers of all experience levels to submit their photos of Britain’s nature at its best.

‘Looking at You’ – Habitat | Runner-up. Mountain hare (Lepus timidus). Cairngorms, Scotland. Image: Peter Bartholomew / British Wildlife Photography Awards

This image of a Horsefly and flower took the top spot in the Botanical Britain category of the 2023 awards. — ‘A Poet’s Lunch’ – Botanical Britain | Winner. Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) and Horsefly (Haematopota sp.). Devilla Forest, Scotland. Image: Matt Doogue / British Wildlife Photography Awards

This image of birds soaring was a runner up in the British Wildlife Photography Awards black and white category. — ‘Soaring’ – Black & White | Runner-up. Gannet (Morus bassanus). Bass Rock, Scotland. Image: Paula Cooper / British Wildlife Photography Awards

‘Welcome to the Zoo (plankton)’ – Coast & Marine | Winner. Jellyfish (Clytia sp. and Neoturris sp.). Shetland, Scotland. Image: Henley Spiers / British Wildlife Photography Awards

‘Willughby’s Leafcutter Bee’ – Animal Portraits | Runner-up. Willughby’ s leafcutter bee (Megachile willughbiella). Staffordshire, England. Image: Ed Phillips / British Wildlife Photography Awards

A fox with dandelions covering its face. — ‘Sleeping With Dandelions’ – Animal Portraits | Winner. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes). London, England. Image: Lewis Newman / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Stunning Scottish imagery celebrated in British Wildlife Photography Awards

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