Photography Competition Results – April 2026

Photography Competition Results – April 2026

Maxine Tetlow

The results for April's photography competition are in! Discover the winning images under this month's theme, Waterways and Wetlands.

Spring is reaching full swing this month, with daylight hours getting longer and the natural world continuing to come to life.

The theme for April's photo competition was 'Waterways and Wetlands'. Our wetland nature reserves are particularly bustling with bird life at this time of year, with many species preparing to breed and others stopping off for pit stops on their migratory journeys.

We were so impressed by the beautiful entries we received. In fact, many voters commented on how difficult it was to select their favourite image!

Take a look at your winner

This month's winner, chosen via public vote, is... Maxine Tetlow. Congratulations!

Maxine's winning photo, 'Swan at Brockholes at sunset', can be seen below.

A lone swan on the lake at Brockholes with the sun setting behind it

Maxine Tetlow

Our voters fell in love with the peaceful scene this photo captured, the colours of the sunset, and the reflection of the swan in the lake's still waters.

Comments from voters described this photo as 'calm and serene', 'beautiful', and 'so tranquil and relaxing'.

One voter said: "the sunset and the swan is a perfect combination", and another said "it catches the light perfectly and wish I had seen the image live".

Runner up

This month's runner up is... Ellie Lightbown. Swans were a common theme this month, with this atmospheric photo showing a group of swans on one of the lakes at Brockholes receiving a lot of love from our voters.

One voter said of this photo: "It looks so graceful. Very aptly named. The lighting and reflection give it a slightly mysterious vibe."

Another voter said: "Beautiful picture which shows a keen photographic talent... Looking at the picture it makes me feel I'd like to step into it to enjoy the building warmth of an early morning jaunt. Refreshingly beautiful photograph."

A group of swans coming in to land on a lake at Brockholes, surrounded by mist

Ellie Lightbown

A huge thank you to everyone who sent in their images this month; we received some stunning entries which really captured the beauty of our region's wetlands! The winner will be contacted via email.

Feeling inspired? Why not enter next month's competition!

May's theme is 'New Beginnings'. Why not take your camera with you on your next visit to our reserves and capture the signs of new life you spot? Whether it's blossom coating trees, wildflowers blooming or breeding birds, nature is bursting to life at this time of year. We can't wait to see your entries!

Submit your entry here 

The deadline for submissions is 11:59pm on the 16th May 2026.

For further information and our full terms and conditions, please read here.

What do you think?

Let us know what you think about the voters' selections via our Facebook page, and keep an eye out for next month's crop of entries which will be shared on our social media pages, ready for you to vote for your favourite.