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Essay Competition Winners 2025

Here are the wonderful images that have been submitted throughout the months of May and June 2025. Thank you to all those who have submitted their photos.

Photo of tiny orchids

Entwined

On a recent visit to Kew Gardens to see the exquisite orchid exhibition, I noticed these two tiny orchids amongst the dark foliage.

Annie
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of a rose chafer beetle

Rose chaffer beetle

This beetle decided my husband's shoulder was a good place to rest! This photo was taken in my garden in Hillingdon.

Veronica
Hillingdon u3a

Photo of mushrooms in a basket

Growing Mushrooms - Stroud Market

These baskets are sold from one of the stalls at the food market in Stroud.

Alan
Interest Groups Online

Photo of a flying duck

Duck in Flight

Lackford Lakes near Bury St Edmunds

Sheila
Haverhill u3a

Photo of flying gannets

Flying with the Gannets

This was taken in mid May on Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire with my iPhone. There was a strong northerly wind and the gannets hovered, almost stationary, before landing near the cliff top path. They were so close and an amazing sight.

Iain
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a pigeon just taking off

We have takeoff!

Wood pigeon launching itself from a neighbour's roof

Andrew
Barnet u3a

Photo of a herald moth

Herald Moth

This was taken in my garden in Nottingham. I accidentally disturbed the moth while gardening and it flew on to the glass panel of a door, where it settled. This is the first time I have seen this species of moth though its colouring makes it quite conspicuous.

Ann
Ruddington and District u3a

Photo of an orange tip butterfly on a mustard flower

Orange tip on Shortpod Mustard Plant

Taken Warren Gorge, Thurrock. My first photo of an orange tip but found they are attracted to the Shortpod Mustard plant, whereas normally see them fleetingly in flight.

Alan
Thurrock u3a

Photo of a Heath Fritillary butterfly

Woodman's Follower

Was old name for the Heath Fritilliary butterfly because folk noticed it appeared in areas that had previously been coppiced. We now know this is because this ancient practice encouraged the appearance of Common Cow-wheat, its larval plant. Seriously endangered, there's been a lot of work in (what's left of ancient) woodlands in southeast Essex and populations are now recovering. The butterflies are a delight to watch and a 'hopeful' visit is now a 'must' for me in June.

Richard
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of ladybirds mating

Ladybirds mating

On the apple tree in my garden.

Fran
Verulam u3a

Photo of a sea at sunrise

Super Sunrise

Taken at 5am from my apartment on the North Shore, Llandudno. We see many amazing sunrises and sunsets throughout the year in this area but I have never seen such a stunning one as this. It made a great start to my day.

Elaine
Llandudno Area u3a

Photo of ladybirds

Wildlife action on my runner beans!

Photo was taken on my allotment runner bean plants, South of Guildford. Ladybirds and their larvae thankfully eat the aphids, which infest my growing vegetables.

Jill
Guildford u3a

Photo of tulips and hyacinths with a windmill behind

Springtime in Warwickshire

A newly opened tulip garden near Hatton in Warwickshire.

Jim
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a donkey behind a gate

Sad Donkey

This is a Donkey at The Donkey Sanctuary near Sidmouth. A keeper was giving a talk at the gate and this poor animal walked up to be near a friend, someone to trust. What conditions this poor creature may have suffered before being welcomed to this haven, who knows?

Alan
Interest Groups Online

Photo of a tulip fields

Tulip Fields

A tulip festival in the Midlands was a riot of gorgeous colour on a sunny spring day.

Karen
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of swan on water

Black and White Serenity

Lakes at Witton Castle, Co. Durham. Lately wildfowl has been devastated by Avian Bird Flu. Sad.

Sue
Bishop Auckland u3a

Photo of a cygnet

Cygnet

Taken at my local park- each year the swan couple have between 4 and 7 successful hatchlings.

Karen
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a black swan

Black swan

I frequently visit Stratford-upon-Avon. There are always a lot of white swan waiting to be fed. However, this is the first time I have seen a black swan.

John
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a fern frond

New fern on old birch

This was taken in Thickthorn Woods in Kenilworth. I love the vibrancy of new ferns as they unfurl in late Spring, this one with a striking contrast to its host, an old silver birch.

Susan
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a red squirrel

Red Squirrel nibbling a nut

Taken in the Cairngorms, Scotland

Sheila
Haverhill u3a

Photo of a red squirrel

Can’t you see I’m busy!

A young red squirrel captured helping itself to some birdseed in the heart of the Angus countryside.

Eric
Forfar and District u3a

Photo of an oak apple and leaves

New season's oak apple

Taken on 4th May in my nearby St Albans park. My thumb shows the scale - this oak apple is near 2 inches diameter. Made by the gall wasp Biorhiza pallida, which lays up to 30 eggs in the leaf-buds in spring. The tissues swell and provide food for the growing larvae.

Fran
Verulam u3a

Photo of a metal dragonfly sculpture reflected in water

Nerves of Steel

Taken at Hatton Locks

Chris
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a growing lemon

Green soon to be lemon

Taken at Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire

Chris
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a bittern in water

Elusive Bittern

A very lucky sighting at RSPB Minsmere in Suffolk. Bitterns can be heard booming but are rarely seen, and are very difficult to photograph.

Jenny
Abbey Wood and Thamesmead u3a

Photo of a Fieldfare eating a berry

Field Fair Game

Taken at Gipsy Lane, Balsall Common

Chris
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a partridge

Unusual Visitor!

Spotted this partridge in our suburban back garden. It stood there for about 20 minutes only moving its head and then flew off. It was a very windy day so perhaps it just stopped to catch it's breath.

Andrew
Barnet u3a

Photo of a family of geese

Canada Geese

I passed these Canada Geese and their 8 youngsters at Ty Coch, Cwmbran on the Mon & Brecon Canal.

Angela
Newport u3a

Photo of a family of geese

Get all your geese in a row

River Till, Ford, Northumberland

Mike
Coventry Sherbourne u3a

Photo of a family of geese

Guarding the family

Love spring, and an excursion to Wakehurst in early May was a delight with so many plants in flower and families of young geese sharing the pond. These Greylag geese seemed to have no fear about approaching the visitors.

Sue
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of a drying dragonfly

Dragonfly

This dragonfly was drying out it's wings after hatching from my garden pond in Hillingdon

Veronica
Hillingdon u3a

Photo of a damselfly

Emerald Damselfly

This picture was taken on a sunny afternoon in woodland surrounding a large lake in Fleet, Hampshire.

Sobes
u3a

Photo of a damselfly

Beautiful Demoiselle

Hendy Park. A damselfly, with large fluttery wings...

Mark
Pontarddulais u3a

Photo of a family of geese

Keeping a watchful eye

This is another small family of geese sharing a lake at Wakehurst. Unlike the Greylag geese these Canada geese seemed to have only two chicks left and they were certainly keeping an eye on this little one.

Sue
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of a tree stumps in water

Crooked knee (pneumatophore) tree stumps

During a great tour at Wakehurst the guide especially mentioned the 'crooked knee' stumps which help the tree to breathe in oxygenated water, when the roots can't get enough oxygen from swampy soil.

Sue
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of an alert bird

I know I left my chicks somewhere green!

Taken in a field near Witton Park Farm, Co. Durham. She was luring us away from her nest site.

Sue
Bishop Auckland u3a

Photo of a drift of seed heads

Snow in May?

On a walk with our u3a Nature Appreciation group at Otterhead Lakes in the Blackdown Hills, the seeds from the many Willow trees were covering the ground in large areas looking much like snow.

Jenny
Honiton u3a

Photo of caterpillars in a web

Ermine moth caterpillars

These caterpillars were covering whole trees with their webs and making a ghostly site in Filnore Woods in Thornbury near Bristol

Nancy
Thornbury u3a

Photo of a Jersey tiger moth caterpillar

Hairy and scary

Taken in my garden on buddleia in Thurrock, Essex. One Jersey Tiger Moth caterpillar, face on.

Alan
Thurrock u3a

Photo of a starfish in a rockpool

Life in a Tidepool

This was taken on a beach walk in California, we were walking over the rocks and looking in the Tidepools, as the Americans say. There was much colour and life in there, including the starfish.

Tina
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a cactus in flower

Flowering Cactus

We were lucky enough to be in California in April and to see all the Spring flowers, including this cactus.

Tina
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of small red and black crabs

That black crab isn't one of us

Red crabs, and an interloper, on rocks in Funchal harbour, Madeira.

Eileen
Sidmouth u3a

Photo of a baby sparrow

Sunny out again!

My garden Bangor, northern Ireland. Sparrow fledgling abandoned by parents.

Iris
Ardspeninsula u3a

Photo of a family of geese

Follow My Leader

Rother Valley Country Park Nr. Sheffield. A family of Canada Geese.

Monica
Sheffield u3a

Photo of a baby sparrow

Where is mum?

Iris
Ardspeninsula u3a

Photo of a statue next to a lake and flowers

Nature with Nature Statues

This is a group of statue figures at Marwood Hill Gardens near Braunton in North Devon.

Alan
Interest Groups Online

Photo of a robin in a garden

The Heart of a Robin!

My Garden in Sheffield. I didn't realise until looking closely that the Robin in was framed by a heart.

Monica
Sheffield u3a

Photo of two lambs

I’m the better looking sibling

Baldersdale, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham

Sue
Bishop Auckland u3a

Photo of cockatiels on a balcony

Intelligent birds

It was taken on our holiday balcony at the Whitsun Islands in Australia last year. There was quite a lot of them, and they were very clever. Seemed to be a hierarchy of them with some in charge and others outcasts.

Michelle
Orell Park u3a

Photo of a Great Tailed Grackle

Waiting for a mate

I do not know what this bird is, I saw it in Southern California, the colour was an intense blue black and really shiny. He kept doing this dance and making a noise, to attract a mate, but unfortunately I never got a photo of that.

Tina
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a pelican

Morning Stroll

We were heading into a beach cafe in Southern California and this pelican was just strolling down the steps. It was really funny to see, he wasn't bothered by the all people around.

Tina
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of spoonbills

Spoonbills at Cley

The first of the Spoonbills back at Cley Marshes, Norfolk in March. . I loved watching them have a bath in the scrape and then to engage in courtship or one just fell asleep.

Kate
Aylsham and District u3a

Photo of a little owl

LIittle Owl I am watching you

Sheila
Haverhill u3a

Photo of a kingfisher

Kingfisher landing

Taken at Bough Beech Nature Reserve, Kent, 2/5/25

Deb
Caterham and District u3a

Photo of canal side

Ulverston Canal Foot

On the Kent’s Bank estuary Cumbria

Kathryn
Furness u3a

Photo of a lake in fog

Emerging from the fog

On one of the last frosty days of very late winter, I got up early to walk to our nearby Essex coast. As I arrived the dense fog started to lift and the beautiful colours of early light started to filter through, allowing an glimpse of the cityscape and sea birds resting on the water to slowly emerge. As the light started to change it reminded me of a Turner painting.

Annie
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of a butterfly on a daisy

Rest stop

Taken in my garden in Chesterfield. I think she’s a female orange tip butterfly (but I could easily be wrong!)

Denise
Chesterfield u3a

Photo of horse chestnut blossoms

Four Candles

These large, upright flower spikes, which are known as candles, belong to the horse chestnut. The trees were originally native to northern Greece and Albania, They were photographed in the grounds of Baddesley Clinton (National Trust) in Warwickshire.

Jim
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a family of swans

This year's Swan Family

On the High Wycombe Dyke

Eric
High Wycombe u3a

Photo of a fern frond

Fern on moss

Although this photo was taken in a wood in Kenilworth, the bracken over polythrichum moss can probably be found in every wood in any part of the country. I love the contrast between the star-shape moss and the wide spreading fern.

Susan
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a blue tit feeding young

But I'm still hungry!

Taken in my garden.

Liz
Caterham and District u3a

Photo of an observant nuthatch

Watch out there's a kestrel about.

Nuthatch taken during our monthly Birdwatching Group at Pennington Flash Nature reserve. He didn't hang about.

Lance
Up Holland u3a

Photo of a chaffinch nest building with fur

From dog to bird

Every year during the nest-building season I fill old bird feeders with dog fur. This used to be from our Golden Retriever but now we have a Cocker Spaniel, her groomer gives us a bag of clippings from other dogs. As can be seen here, an East Devon Goldfinch is making very good use of it

Jenny
Honiton u3a

Photo of a bee visiting a bird's foot trefoil

Unexpected visitor

A small patch of bright yellow Birds-foot-trefoil on slopes near my home in Leigh-on-Sea yielded a first-time sighting of this Welted Lesser Mason-bee (Hoplitis claviventris). Although quite close, I seldom walk this particular stretch and was delighted to find this wildflower (excellent for native pollinators) and, especially, its visitor.

Richard
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of a crab on a sandy beach

Who are you looking at?

At Praia do Gunga (Gunga's beach) south of Maceio Brazil, this Siri crab was close enough to take a bite out of my foot!

Eileen
Sidmouth u3a

Photo of a male bumble bee in a chive flower

Cute masculinity

Looking more like something one might find in a small child's toy collection, this male Early Bumble bee (Bombus pratorum) was so engrossed in extracting nectar from within Chives flowers that I had plenty of time for photos. One has to be a bit quicker to capture females which have useful work to do to support the colony!

Richard
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of pink peonies

Kahlo Peonies

Mexican painter Frida Kahlo Would have loved this natural peonies crown headband. The phrase ‘Kahlo peonies’ has become a descriptor for art, prints, and other products that combine the visual language of Frida Kahlo with the imagery of peonies.

Andri
Andover u3a

Photo of an oriental poppy

Oriental Poppy

This poppy has mesmerising effect as much as Georgia O’Keeffe’s painted ‘Oriental Poppies’. Of the large close-up, O'Keeffe said that she decided that she would paint flowers “Big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it - I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers."

Andri
Andover u3a

Photo of a climbing rose

Roses in full lush bloom

Claude Monet found so much beauty in flowers. These abundant blooms could have inspired him to include them in his famous ‘Rose Garden’ series. Oxfordshire

Andri
Andover u3a

Photo of nigella

Love-in-a-Mist

Nigella Damascena, Love-in-a-Mist or Devil in the bush flower. It stands proudly with its delicate structure and enchanting blooms at a cul-dec-sac in Wiltshire. In the language of flowers this plant speaks ... new beginnings, tenderness, secrets, Love and Hope.

Andri
Andover u3a

Photo of a spotted flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Taken at Whimple

Chris
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a still lake

Restore and Rejuvenate

My first day with Andover U3a Amblers was at Charlton Lakes. You find peace, tranquility and connection with the natural world. Charlton Lakes in Hampshire act as a refuge for amblers, strollers or families. A little gem in Andover- highly recommended. Always find time for reflection.

Andri
Andover u3a

Previous Found in Nature submissions