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2026 photo competition – now closed for judging

a group of people seated playing instruments and looking at the view
Sights & sounds, Glastonbury Tor Debbie Hawkes

Our photo competition is now closed so it’s time for our judges to get busy.

Our annual photo competition celebrates what is special about Somerset – its people, wildlife and places. This year, our theme was Love Your Somerset Countryside.

We were looking for photos that capture just what you love about our beautiful Somerset countryside – our special landscapes or just the ordinary countryside next door.  Images that share special times and events you enjoyed or pictures that tell a story about your everyday life in the countryside were encouraged.

  • There are two prizes of £100 each – one for adults (19+) and one for those who are 18 years old and under.
  • Competition entry is FREE and you may enter up to 3 photographs.
  • Closing date was 30th September 2026

Winners will be decide by our panel of judges – CPRE Somerset Chairman, Hugh Williams; Andrew Lee of Somerset Confidential, Ross Alexander of Moment Photography and Kit Houghton, of Kit Houghton Photography.

You can see some of our favourite entries in the gallery below.  We will announce the winners as soon as possible.

Love Your Somerset Countryside

Take a look at our pick of the entries received. You can click on each photo to enlarge it.

  • trees at sunset

    Hillside sunset by Felix Andrews

  • glastonbury Tor

    Glastonbury Tor by Felix Andrews

  • aerial view of winter mist over countryside

    Winter sun, Milborne Port by Martin Hewitt

  • aerial view of autumn trees & fields

    Morning glory, Milborne Port by Martin Hewitt

  • sunset reflected on river

    Sunset on the Axe by Steve Papaleo

  • gardens with viaduct

    Kilver Court by Mark Pike

  • Steam train by reservoir from overhead

    Steam at Sutton Bingham by Mark Pike

  • Wells cathedral

    Wells Cathedral by Mark Pike

  • sheep in shade of tree

    Who do you think you are looking at? by Emma Clark

  • thactched cottage repairs

    Maintaining ancient skills by Emma Clark

  • misty orchard with deer

    Misty orchard with deer by Debra Stringer

  • sheep at sunrise

    Frozen fleece and fiery sunrise by Debra Stringer

  • people on church roof during eclipse

    Bellringers watching the eclipse, St Martin's Church, Kingsbury Episcopi by Debra Stringer

  • pony crossing road in Exmoor

    Wandering Exmoor alone by Mary Braddock

  • couple walking at sunset followed by cows

    They are behind you! by Mary Braddock

  • ponies on Exmoor hill

    A slow wander across Exmoor by Mary Braddock

  • grey squirrel eating nut

    Grey squirrel by Bella Kallen

  • waterfall in stone wall

    Stony waterfall by Bella Kallen

  • lake with boats

    Lake by Bella Kallen

  • person fishing on a boat in a lake

    Fishing by Michelle Watts

  • ponies on a heather hillside

    Ponies & heather on Haddon HIll by Diana Griffin

  • 2 woodpeckers either side of a tree trunk

    Hide and seek by Jane Hewitt

  • misty stream in winter

    Misty morning by Jane Hewitt

  • bird on frosty twig

    Frosty morning by Jane Hewitt

  • wooden lighthouse at sunset

    Burnham on Sea reflection by Edyta Rice

  • sunset behind tree overlooking coastline

    Porlock countryside by Edyta Rice

  • cheddar gorge form above

    Cheddar Gorge from above by Edyta Rice

  • swan on river infront of Glastonbury Tor

    Green before the drought by Jeanette Broughton

  • walkway along palace walls next to moat

    Between two sides, Bishops Palace, Wells by Jeanette Broughton

  • lady walking through stone gateway past large trees

    The walker of Wells by Emillie Marshfield

  • moat of Bishops Palace with cathedral in background

    The Palace in Blossom by Emillie Marshfield

  • red & white wooden lighthouse

    The lighthouse, Berrow Beach by Emillie Marshfield

  • curvy wooden bridge in the tree canopy

    Cool bridge at The Newt by Mary Hill

  • tall water fountain

    100ft high fountain at Forde Abbey by Mary Hill

  • view of green fields and slope

    View from Coombe Hill by Mary Hill

  • Sheep at Peasey Farm, Bawdrip by Frances Stockwell

  • a flock of starlings amongst a flock of sheep

    A flock of starlings disturb the sheep at the start of their migration by Frances Stockwell

  • 2 ponies eating gorse

    Pony picnic, Cothelstone Hill by Dawn Mahoney

  • black & white image of empty barn

    The old, empty barn, Corfe, by Sarah Woods

  • sunrise over flooded fields in winter

    Winter sunrise on the Somerset Levels by Diana Forrester-Brown

  • fence post & barbed wire sticking out of floodwater

    Waterlogged by Ann Morris

  • sunset behind reeds

    Reedy path at sunset by Ann Morris

  • misty morning on farmland

    Misty morning on the drove by Ann Morris

  • cows wading in a river

    Cows regatta by Claire Leavesley

  • close up of daisy flower

    Daisy by Liz Farcue

  • long stretch of water with tall trees

    Shapwick Heath by Liz Farcue

  • tree in field on sunny day

    Field in Chilton Polden by Liz Farcue

  • children on a trail by a willow sculpture

    Jungle Book Trail, Coates Willow Centre by Dinah Whitehead

  • a field of sunflowers

    Sunflowers by Dinah Whitehead

  • pond with tree on hill

    The Shining Lake and The Victorious Tree -Priddy ponds by Billy Tatham Lye (age 10)

  • sun shining on a pond

    The Bright Light Lake - Priddy Ponds by Billy Tatham Lye (age 10)

  • duck on harbour wall

    Bashful Duck, Butlins Minehead by Aneurin Morgan (18s & under)

  • pile of stones on pebbly beach

    Coastal rock pile at Porlock Weir by Aneurin Morgan (18s & under)

  • hummingbird hawmoth getting nectar from valerian flower

    Hummingbird hawkmoth at Porlock Weir by Aneurin Morgan (18s & under)

  • barn owk chicks in tree

    Baby Barn Owlets by Michelle Watts

  • view of Cheddar Gorge from above

    Cheddar Gorge by Reuben Lang

  • close up of adder

    The lost adder by Reuben Lang (taken after wildfire at Stockhill Woods)

  • shadows of legs but no upper body on a wall by a reservoir with a rainbow

    Still short in long shadows, Cheddar Reservoir by Amanda Baldwin

  • people climbing on a trig pount on hilltop

    Trig point happy, Crook Peak by Amanda Baldwin

  • bike resting against gate in front of wet field

    Level pedalling, Burcott by Lisa Case

  • dog walking on path in woods with wild garlic

    Wild Garlic at Kings Castle by Lisa Case

  • rainbow over fields

    Radiant rainbow by Lisa Case

  • track and trees with folly in distance

    View of folly at Hestercombe by Stuart Watson

  • 3 people on hills above Cheddar Reservoir

    View of Cheddar Reservoir by Stuart Watson

  • sunset and silhouettes of large trees

    Sunset on the Mendips by Stuart Watson

  • German shepherd dog in snow

    Shepherd in the snow by Liz Raybould

  • Barn owl flying through branches

    Barn Owl by Liz Raybould

  • spider in web with raindrops

    Spider by Liz Raybould

  • morning mist with sheep and a church in the background

    Morning mist in Mark by Neil Fellows

  • big red poppy oening up

    Poppy at Somerset Lavender Farm, Faulkland by Deborah Hawkes

  • man on bench in winter admirirng the view across fields

    A moment of reflection, The Newt in Somerset by Deborah Hawkes

  • Chaffinch

    Chaffinch at The Newt In Somerset by Deborah Hawkes

  • dragonfly

    A Somerset dragon by Jon Bousfield, Avalon Marshes

  • bird on a stone wall

    Divide by Jon Bousfield, Bishops Palace, Wells

  • moorhen & chicks in hols in wall next to water

    More and moorhens by Jon Bousfield, Bishops Palace, Wells

  • 2 foxes fighting

    Foxes having a scrap by Jeff Acreman

  • kingfisher with a fish

    Kingfisher turning a fish by Jeff Acreman

  • badger in snow

    Snow bound badger by Jeff Acreman

  • pub sign & car park with vintage tractor

    Railway Inn, Ham Wall by Roland Lovell

  • Arriving in style at the local by Roland Lovell

  • water and reeds

    Ham Wall by Roland Lovell

  • fawn asleep in long grass

    Fawn in grass, Coleford by David Anstice

  • oak tree in lavender field

    Oak & lavender, Faulkland by David Anstice

  • kingfisher

    Alert kingfisher by Malcolm Brown

  • Great crested Grebe chick

    Humbug by Malcolm Brown

  • swan

    Majestic swan by Malcolm Brown

  • fox cub in grass

    Fox cub by Charlie Giles

  • suset through dark trees & gate

    Sunset through trees by Laura Atkins (18s & under)

  • sunset & clouds

    Moody sky by Laura Atkins (18s & under)

  • Robin on a branch

    Robin by Kayden Boateng (18s & under)

  • dark sunset

    Sunset by Matthew Allard (18s & under)

  • dark forest

    Dark forest by Tom Carter (18s & under)

  • house beyond a pond and reeds

    Beyond the reeds by Lucas Mooney (18s & under)

  • leaf in puddle

    Leaf in puddle by Cosmo Barron Martinez (18s & under)

  • graffiti on bridge with trees

    Bridge by Cosmo Barron Martinez (18s & under)

  • close up of cow's nose

    Cow by Elijah Pitman (18s & under)

  • field

    Field by Elijah Ptman (18s & under)

  • man by pond

    Pond by Lexia Healey (18s & under)

  • person sitting on a branch holding a mirror

    Sat on a log by Lexia Healey (18s & under)

  • a rainbow over a rural scene

    Somerset Countryside and Rainbow by Clark Warren

  • black dog leaping in a field

    Lily the Lurcher, Countryside Walks by Clark Warren

  • a young fox in a field of crops

    Young Fox Enjoying the Countryside by Clark Warren

  • fields and countryside

    Beautiful Somerset by Anne Hine

  • wooden path leading through trees

    Path by Cosmo Barron Martinez (age 15)

  • close up of red rose bloom

    Rose by Freya Phillips (age 15)

  • people at a festival

    A Somerset Celebration by Anne Hine

  • a wedding in a village

    A Somerset Celebration by Anne Hine

  • bluebells among trees

    Bluebells by Lorraine Charnley

  • sun shining through trees with a field beyond

    Sun through the trees by Lorraine Charnley

  • steam train at a station

    West Somerset Railway by Lorraine Charnley

  • fox next to water

    Fox on the Lookout by Len Collard

  • three great cranes walking close together

    Three of a Kind by Len Collard

  • deer

    Deer by Farleigh Nicholls (18s and under)

  • close up of flower

    Flower close up by Jayden Keel (18s and under)

  • sunset view across fields

    Sunset in the countryside by Luca Kitching (18s and under)

  • close up view of crocus in sunny field

    Crocus by Lily Ferbrache (18s & under)

  • view up to canopy of conifer trees

    Tall Trees by Grace Tricker-Haines (18s & under)

  • sun setting behind large tree

    Sunset by Nolan Young (18s & under)

  • Water by Nuala Bayew (18s & under)

  • road through steep woodland

    Woodland by Harry Squire (18s & under)

  • snowy scene in woods

    Snowy woods by Asha Wajsblum-Hayes (18s & under)

  • misty rural scene with sheep

    Misty Somerset by Thea Sleeman (18s & under)

  • leafy stream

    Leafy stream by Sam Rogers-Reilly (18s & under)

  • sunset

    Sunset by Alfie Baldwin (18s & under)

  • blossom

    Blossom by Archie Sandy (18s & under)

  • tall conifers

    Tall trees by Aurea Wood (18s & under)

  • frosty leaves

    Frosty leaves by Edward Mines-Irving (18s & under)

  • trees & church & water

    Lake by Herbie Whiting - (18s & under)

  • sunset

    Sunset by Iris Chant (18s & under)

  • leaves & berries

    Leaves by Joshua Jack Bennett (18s & under)

  • bluebells

    Bluebells by Max Britton (18s & under)

  • blossom

    Blossom by Oliver Lapham (18s & under)

  • child looking at flower by stream

    Child & flower by Oscar McDIne (18s & under)

  • countryside scene

    Countryside scene by Beatrix Hayes Saunders (18s & under)

  • two young people playing under a beech tree

    Under the beech tree by Sophia Phillips (18s & under)

  • hare hiding in long grass

    Hare hiding in the grass by Michelle Watts

  • Exmoor pony with view of coast

    Exmoor pony by Paul Allen

  • horse rider crossing river

    Exmoor crossing by Paul Allen

  • highland cow

    Highland cow, Exmoor by Paul Allen

  • young deer in field of buttercups

    Buttercup sentinel by Loretta O'Grady

  • deer

    Looking over the Levels by Loretta O'Grady

  • egret and crow in field of buttercups

    Shared Landscape by Loretta O'Grady

  • heart shaped stone in a wall

    Heart stone by Asha Wajsblum-Hayes (18s & under)

  • bird of d handprey on glove

    Bird of prey by Sophia Phillips (18s & under)

  • rusty paint tin littered in countryside

    Rubbish by George Foster (18s & under)

  • Waterside by Thomas Brooks (18s & under)

  • Waterfall by Thomas Brooks (18s & under)

  • man walking with setting sun behind

    Sunset walk by Devon Cooper (18s & under)

  • light through branches

    sunlit hedge by Devon Cooper (18s & under)

  • hedge around house

    Hedge by Devon Cooper (18s & under)

  • close up of swan

    Swan by Izzy Loughlin (18s & under)

  • steps leading to a tall monument

    Ham Hill Country Park by Caroline Gibbons Smith

  • tres and water

    Ninesprings Country Park by Caroline Gibbons Smith

  • willows overhanging water

    Ninesprings Country Park by Caroline Gibbons Smith

  • meadow and trees

    Meadow by Ruby Acres (18s & under)

  • close up of grass

    Plant by Matthew Lyons (18s & under)

  • sunset

    Sunset by Evie Chivers (18s & under)

  • Sunset

    Sunset by Errol Graham (18s & under)

  • tree looking upwards

    Looking Up by Tove Hickish (18s & under)

  • Swan

    Swan by Samuel Tozer (18s & under)

  • close up of tulips

    Tulips by Rose Scott (18s & under)

  • sunset through open window

    Sunset by Pippa Chubb (18s & under)

  • Fox cub by Charlie Giles

  • Fox cub by Charlie Giles

Previous photo competitions

Somerset

2025 photo competition

Read more

Somerset

2024 photo competition – our winners

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Somerset

Somerset: wild at heart – 2023 photo competition winners announced

Read more
The countryside next door

Somerset

Happy Days in Somerset – winners announced

Read more
The countryside next door

Somerset

2021 photography competition – winners announced

Read more
Competitions

Somerset

2020 Photography Competition – we have our winner!

Read more
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