Winkworth Photography Competition

The boathouse tucked into the tree line on the far shore of the lake at Winkworth. The scene is tranquil with mist floating over lake with bare trees that appear frosty or lightly dusted from morning chill. — First place winning entry of 2025 Winkworth Photography Competition | © Emma Bradley

Calling all photographers and nature enthusiasts! Winkworth’s annual photography competition is back for its second edition and it’s your chance to capture the breathtaking beauty of the Arboretum through the seasons.

Enter for the opportunity to have your photograph exhibited at the Arboretum, with two standout entrants crowned ‘Winkworth Photographer of the Year and 'Winkworth Junior Photographer of the Year’.

The competition is open to photographers of all abilities, with two age categories: Adults 18yrs + and young people 6-17 years.

Winkworth is renowned for its year-round colour - from carpets of bluebells and candy-coloured azaleas in spring to the fiery, kaleidoscopic hues of autumn. It's abundant wildlife, rolling hillsides and scenic views make it a photographer’s paradise in every season.

Photography Exhibition

Submit us your most striking images celebrating the colour, energy and life of Winkworth. The top 10 images in each category will feature in a photography exhibition in the Winter Garden at Winkworth from Saturday 30 May to Sunday 29 June.

Three easles displaying photographs as part of exhibition in the Winter Garden at Winkworth. — Visit Winkworth's photography exhibition in the Winter Garden | © Brendan Burbage

Competition Details

Theme: Vibrant Nature
Entry Limit: Maximum of 2 entries per person
Age Groups: Adults 18yrs +, and young people 6-17 years.
Image Requirements: 
- No people in the images
- The images must be taken at Winkworth Arboretum
Closing date for submissions: Friday 24 April 2026.

Prizes

Top 10 images in each age category will be reproduced in large scale and displayed in an outdoor exhibition in the Winter Garden at Winkworth.
The winning photograph in each age category will be name ‘Winkworth photographer of the year 2026’ and ‘Winkworth Junior photographer of the year 2026’.
Winning entrants will receive one free entry for themself and up to 3 guests to visit Winkworth and see the exhibition.
Shortlisted entrants will receive one free entry for themself and 1 guest to visit Winkworth and see the exhibition.
There are no monetary prizes; having your work displayed publicly as part of this exhibition is the reward.

Submission Guidelines

Ensure your photographs align with the theme.
Submit your entries by Friday 1 May 2026.
Include your name, age group for each entry.
Each entry must include an explanation (50 words max) of why you took the picture and why it meets theme.
Parent/Guardian permission required to enter the young person’s category.

Submission Criteria

Format: Digital images in JPEG or PNG format.
Resolution: Minimum resolution of 300 DPI.
File Size: Each image file should not exceed 5MB.
Orientation: Photos of any orientation are permitted
Naming Convention: Each file should be named as follows: [YourName][Category]. For example, "JaneDoe_YoungPerson".
Submission Method: Email your submission to winkworth.arboretum@nationaltrust.org.uk
Young person's entries must include parent's email address as proof of parent/guardian consent.
Deadline: All entries must be submitted by Friday 25 April 2026.