Britain's stunning wildlife put on show as the British Wildlife Photography Awards announce winners

Winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards have been announced and feature some of Britain's most incredible creatures, with a stunning photograph of a barnacle-covered football taking the top spot. 

The winning shot and the title of British Wildlife Photographer of the Year belong to Ryan Stalker, who takes home the grand prize of £5,000. The winning image titled Ocean Drifter, depicts a football floating in the sea covered in invasive goose barnacles, that has made a journey over thousands of miles to reach UK shores. 

Speaking on the image Stalker says, "Above the water is just a football. But below the waterline is a colony of creatures. The football was washed up in Dorset after making a huge ocean journey across the Atlantic. More rubbish in the sea could increase the risk of more creatures making it to our shores and becoming invasive species.”

Stalker's winning image was entered into the grand prize due to winning the category Coast & Marine, one of 10 categories to produce outstanding winning images. The BWPA has included the equipment and the settings used to take these amazing shots, which gives an idea of where to start if you fancy shooting a similar subject. One thing that a lot of the winning images have in common is that the majority were taken with a Canon camera, and not just the best Canon cameras, a mixture of mirrorless and DSLR, showing older gear doesn't mean worse gear. 

The other categories along with the winning photographers can be seen below:

Animal Behaviour: Ian Mason 

Animal portraits: Mark Williams 

Botanical Britain: Jason McCombe

Black & White: Robin Dodd

Coast & Marine: Ryan Stalker 

Habitat: Daniel Valverde Fernandez 

Hidden Britain: Ross Hoddinott

Urban Wildlife: Simon Withyman 

Wild Woods: Graham Niven 

RSPB Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Max Wood

RSPB Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year was awarded to Max Wood for his image titled Running on Water, which depicts a beautifully backlit Coot fleeing a fight, running across the water to take flight and flee. Wood was selected after winning the 15-17 years group and faced competition from 12-14 years group winner Felix Walker-Nix and under 11 group winner Jamie Smart. 

The British Wildlife Photography Awards is a prestigious showcase of nature in Britain but also acts as a reminder of what value our woodlands, wetlands, and other ecosystems still hold. 

Will Nicholls, Director of BWPA says, "The British Wildlife Photography Awards brings to light the spectacular tapestry of Britain’s natural heritage. This collection is more than just a gallery of images; it is a celebration, a reminder of the enduring beauty of British wildlife, and a call to preserve the natural spaces that we are so fortunate to have in Britain.”

All awarded images will be published in a hardback coffee table book published by Bird Eye Books, with a foreword from Steve Backshall. Entries for the BWPA 2025 are now open and more information can be found on the official website. 

You may also be interested in our guides to the best camera for wildlife, the best lenses for bird photography, and the best waterproof camera.