Magical heathland dawn wins photo competition

Sussex Wildlife Trust judges, headed up by local wildlife expert and professional photographer David Plummer alongside wildlife photographer Lisa Saw, selected 12 finalists from more than 300 entries for its online photography competition. Then it was over to the public, where over 1700 people voted for their favourite.

We are excited to announce that Lloyd Lane is our 2025 winner, with his stunning photo - Fiery Heathland Dawn at Stedham Common.

Lloyd told us how he took the winning photo "I came to Stedham Common before sunrise to photograph the heather in bloom. As I was walking through the heathland, I noticed the sky starting to illuminate with a fiery glow, so I quickly made my way towards a clearing to get a better view where I was delighted to see mist rising in the distance, adding an extra layer of magic to the scene."

Simon Grinyer was voted the runner-up with his superb photo of a Barn Owl at Woods Mill Nature Reserve - Evening Watch.

Simon said "I’d been up at Woods Mill on several evenings watching the Barn Owls. I’d already captured some lovely shots of it perching in trees and flying across the meadows, but this evening was different. I was sitting quietly in the grass when the owl flew into the perfect spot, the setting sun on one side and the dark shaded trees behind made it really stand out. I was so happy with the result. At the time, my wife and I were going through a difficult pregnancy, so this brief moment of peace and connection with nature was incredibly special to me."

Lloyd has won first prize of £100 and Simon won a t-shirt from Sussex Wildlife Trust's online clothing store.

All 12 finalists’ photographs will feature in Sussex Wildlife Trust’s 2026 online calendar, available to download in December this year. The winning photos will also feature on social media and the Trust’s members’ magazine. 

Thank you to everyone who has taken part and voted in this year's competition.

See more of Lloyd Lane's photography