Wildflower Photographer of the Year

2026 Terms and Conditions

Eligibility

This competition is open to residents of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) who are 13 years or older at the time of entry, excluding employees and their immediate families of the promoter, their agents, or anyone professionally connected with the promotion. For those under 18, a parent or guardian must complete the entry form.

The competition runs from 00.01 on Friday 29 May 2026 and closes at 23:59 on Wednesday 30 September 2026. Any entries received after the competition closes will not be accepted.

There are two age categories:

• Young People (13-17)
• Adults (18+)

All entries must have been taken between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026.

Subject matter

We want you to go wild, but please follow these guidelines.

Please ensure that you follow the Countryside Code when taking photographs.

Ensure that you have the relevant landowners' permission if you are taking photographs on private land (rural or urban).

Please ensure you are not acting in a way that causes harm or distress to any wildlife, or flora, e.g. disturbing nesting birds, trampling or picking wildflowers.

Photographs must show native UK wildflowers in situ (i.e. not picked or arranged) but may include seedheads. Use online resources to check whether a plant is classified as native.

If there are any identifiable people in the photo(s) you submit, you must have their express written permission. If they are under 18, you must have their parent or guardian's written consent instead. We may request written proof if you are shortlisted. You must ensure that any identifiable individuals have been advised that the photograph(s) may be submitted to this competition and that the photograph(s) may be used in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

Image rights

Entrants must own the copyright to all submitted images. Images may be entered into other competitions, provided that doing so does not transfer exclusive rights to a third party that would conflict with our ability to reproduce and publish the image. If an image has won, or goes on to win, another competition that claims exclusive rights over it, it must be withdrawn from this competition. By entering, photographers grant us the right to reproduce submitted images for editorial and promotional purposes in connection with this competition. Images will always be credited to the photographer. They will not be used for commercial purposes.

Professional photographers are eligible to enter, but as above, they must own the reproduction rights to the image(s) they submit and must not consist of work submitted as part of an Eden Project commission or be under contract elsewhere.

Please note: images entered in the 2025 Wildflower Photographer of the Year competition will not be accepted.

How to enter

Images must be submitted via the Zealous platform. Images submitted in any other way (e.g. email, transfer) will not be accepted.

Submitting your entry

• Make sure you enter the relevant category for your age.
• Make sure your image meets the technical requirements listed above.
• You may submit up to three images to your chosen category. If you submit more than three images, we may disqualify all of your entries.
• If you submit more than one image, you will need to repeat the submission process each time.
• All entries for the adult category must be made directly by the entrant.
• Please include the location where your photo(s) were taken, using what3words if possible.
• Please include some information about the image and why you took it, if possible.

Entrants for the Young People category must obtain their parent or guardian's consent to enter. The parent or guardian must complete the competition submission form and supply their own contact details, as well as the photographer's name and age at the time of entering. The photographer must be 13–17 at the time of entry. You may only enter one category.

Syndicated entries or those made using AI, a script or the use of automated devices or processes are not allowed, and all such entries will be disqualified. Please note RAW images may be requested.

No responsibility can be taken for entries or claims which are lost, delayed, corrupted, damaged, misdirected or incomplete or which cannot be submitted or for any reason, technical or otherwise. Proof of sending will not be accepted as proof of receipt. The promoter does not guarantee continuous, uninterrupted, or secure access to the website. Numerous factors beyond the promoter's control may interfere with the operation of the website.

Technical requirements

All images must be submitted via this platform in JPEG format in sRGB colour profile. Images must be at least 3MB and a minimum of 1,500 pixels on the long edge — we recommend uploading the highest resolution possible. The maximum file size is 5MB.

Some basic adjustments will be accepted, such as cropping, sharpening, or colour adjustments. Editing that misrepresents reality will not be accepted, e.g. image compositing, adding or removing objects or people. If you are shortlisted, we may ask you to send us an original, unedited image.

Physical images will not be accepted.

Please do not submit images with borders, watermarks or signatures.

AI-generated or manipulated images will not be accepted.

Judging and prizes

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges comprising respected garden and plant photographers Clive Nichols and Molly Hollman, and National Wildflower Centre experts.

The judges will select a winner in each category, and each winner will receive a cash prize. A runner-up for each category will also be selected and identified as such in any PR and the exhibition. Please note there is no prize or cash for runners-up.

Prizes

Adult (18+) Winner £1,000.

Young Person (13–17) Winner £500.

There are no cash prizes for runners-up.

The winning photographs from each category and the runners-up will be included as part of the Wildflower Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Eden Project and Canary Wharf.

The winner of each category will be picked from entries to that category and notified within 28 days of judging ending. Further details, including bank details will be requested.

In the event the claim for the prize is not received by the promoter within 28 days of prize notification, the promoter reserves the right to withdraw prize entitlement and award the prize to a reserve selected at the same time as the original.

There are no prize alternatives available in whole or in part except in the event of circumstances beyond its reasonable control. The promoter reserves the right to substitute an alternative of equal or greater value. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the promoter, the prize will only be awarded directly to the winner of each category.

In the event of circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the promoter, or otherwise where fraud, abuse, and/or an error (human or computer) affects or could affect the proper operation of this promotion or the awarding of prizes, and only where circumstances make this unavoidable, the promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the promotion or these terms and conditions, at any stage, but will always endeavour to minimize the effect to participants in order to avoid undue disappointment.

The names and counties of the winners will be available on this page within 3 months of the closing date. By entering this promotion, you consent to the use of this information being used in this manner.

The winner of the Adult category agrees to reasonable post-event publicity by the promoter with no further recompense.

A selection of the best images, including category winners and runners-up, will feature in an exhibition at the Eden Project in November 2026 and at Canary Wharf in spring 2027.

Any questions concerning the legal interpretation of these terms and conditions will be based on English law, and the Courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction.

The promoter reserves the right to verify all entries including but not limited to asking for the entrant's address and identity details (which must be provided within 14 days) and to refuse to award a prize or withdraw prize entitlement and/or refuse further participation in the promotion and disqualify the participant where there are reasonable grounds to believe there has been a breach of these terms and conditions or any instructions forming part of this promotions entry requirements or otherwise where a participant has gained unfair advantage in participating in the promotion or won using fraudulent means. The promoter will be the final arbiter in any decisions, and these will be binding, and no correspondence will be entered into in relation to this clause.

In no event will the promoter be liable for any direct or indirect damages or losses arising out of or in connection with your entry into this competition, the use of your entry in accordance with these Terms and Conditions, or the use of any Prize.

By consenting to these Terms and Conditions, you agree to the processing of your personal data for the purposes of administering your entry into the competition. For further details on how we process and store your data, please see our Privacy Policy.

Frequently Asked Questions
 

How many photographs can I submit?
You can submit up to three photographs to the relevant category.

How much does it cost to enter?
Entry is free.

Are there any restrictions on when my photo was taken?
Yes. All entries must have been taken between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026. Photographs taken outside this period will not be accepted.

How do I submit my images?
All entries must be submitted via Zealous. Emailed entries or those submitted by any other means will not be accepted.

What size and format should they be?
All images must be submitted in JPEG format in sRGB colour profile. Images must be at least 3 MB and 1,500 pixels on the longest edge. We recommend uploading the highest resolution possible. The maximum file size is 5MB.

Please do not submit images featuring borders, watermarks or signatures. 

Physical images will not be accepted.
 

Can I submit edited images? 
Some basic adjustments will be accepted, such as cropping, sharpening, or colour adjustments. Editing that misrepresents reality will not be accepted, e.g. image compositing, adding or removing objects or people. AI-generated or AI-manipulated images will not be accepted. If you are shortlisted, we may ask you to provide an original, unedited image.

Who should I contact if I'm experiencing technical issues with my submission?
For technical queries with the Zealous platform please contact the Zealous Live Chat or info@zealous.co

My image has been published before – can I enter it?
Yes, but you must own the copyright to the image, including reproduction rights.

I own the copyright to an image, but didn’t take it – can I enter?
No, you must be the photographer (or the parent or guardian of the photographer if they are between 13 and 17), not just the copyright holder.

I am under 18 – how do I enter?
If you are between 13 and 17 years old, you will need a parent or guardian to enter on your behalf. They will need to include your name and age on the submission form and supply their own email address. Unfortunately, we cannot accept entries from photographers who are under 13 at the time of entering.

I was under 18 when I took this photo, but I’m now over 18 – which competition should I enter?
You should enter the Young People's category.

I don’t know the name of the plant I’ve photographed, what should I do?
Try looking it up using Google Image Search or some of the online resources above – or try your local library or bookshop for a wildflower guidebook. If you can’t identify it, submit it anyway, but put 'Unknown' in the title field.

I currently live in the UK, but I’m not a permanent UK resident. Can I enter?
Sorry, unfortunately not. The competition is only open to residents of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Can I enter more than one category?
No, please select the category that is most relevant to you. As of 2026, there are only two categories: Young People for 13- 17-year-olds and Adults for those over 18. You may submit up to three photographs in your chosen category. The competition is open to all photographers, including professionals.

Can professional photographers enter?
Yes — professionals are welcome to enter the Adult category. However, images submitted as part of an Eden Project commission or under contract elsewhere are not eligible.

I have a question that isn't answered here, what should I do?
Please read the terms and conditions below for more information. If you still need help please email wildflowerphoto@edenproject.com