Will this amazing toad photo inspire you to take your camera on a wildlife hunt?

Will this amazing toad photo inspire you to take your camera on a wildlife hunt?
(Image credit: Paul Harwood)

Last year Paul Harwood won the Julian Gardner Award with his amazing close-up image of a toad. Now it could be your turn to get the trophy. The competition, run by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), which celebrates the UK countryside, is now open for entries.

“We are really looking forward to seeing lots of inspiring images, whether taken on a local walk, in a nearby park, or your own back garden” said James Swyer, press & publications manager at GWCT. “We love to see entries from young people and from people just starting to get into photographing nature. The standard last year was incredible, so we are really excited about this year’s awards.”

Last year Paul Harwood scooped first prize in the adult category , while 15-year-old Katy Read, who captured a dunnock bathing in the rain, won the junior category.

15-year-old Katy Read captured a dunnock bathing in the rain, to win the junior category in 2019 (Image credit: Katy Read)

The competition was launched in memory of Julian Gardner, a Sussex farmer and lifelong supporter of the GWCT, who was tragically killed while defending his property in 2010.

The awards are open to all amateur photographers and are related to the GWCT’s work – taking in all aspects of the UK countryside. There are two categories:

Adult section – The winner will be awarded the GWCT Julian Gardner trophy - a sculpture of a hare

16 and under section - The winner will be awarded the GWCT Julian Gardner junior trophy - a sculpture of a leveret.

Closing date for entries is 31 May 2020. For more information visit the GWCT website.

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Chris George

Chris George has worked on Digital Camera World since its launch in 2017. He has been writing about photography, mobile phones, video making and technology for over 30 years – and has edited numerous magazines including PhotoPlus, N-Photo, Digital Camera, Video Camera, and Professional Photography. 


His first serious camera was the iconic Olympus OM10, with which he won the title of Young Photographer of the Year - long before the advent of autofocus and memory cards. Today he uses a Nikon D800, a Fujifilm X-T1, a Sony A7, and his iPhone 11 Pro.


He has written about technology for countless publications and websites including The Sunday Times Magazine, The Daily Telegraph, Dorling Kindersley, What Cellphone, T3 and Techradar.