The Ealing Wildlife Group (EWG) and Ealing Council’s park rangers have been hard at work collecting and judging entries for its 2019 photography exhibition, which will be on show in Walpole Park next month.

Entries of wildlife spotted and snapped in Ealing have been flooding in for the third annual exhibition, which has proved hugely popular in previous years – and the judges have now made their decision. 

The winning submissions will be displayed as usual in the public exhibition in Walpole Park throughout October and November 2019.

There are six categories:  Beautiful Ealing, Fantastic Flora, Relationships with Nature, Up Close and Personal, Urban Wildlife and Young Wildlife Explorers (for under 16s). The exhibition is designed to celebrate local wildlife, green spaces, biodiversity, environment and local people’s relationship with nature. 

The competition is not judged purely on technical ability, of equal importance is entrants’ description of what the photo means to them and why it’s interesting. It means that this year’s entries could come from anyone – from a skilled photographer to an armchair wildlife observer.

Winners will be announced at the grand unveiling of the exhibition in Walpole Park, starting at 1pm on Saturday 5 October at the bandstand pavilion opposite the Rickyard Café.

Councillor Mik Sabiers, cabinet member for environment and highways said “Walpole Park is the perfect venue to host the third annual Wildlife Photography Exhibition and is a beautiful green space rich in nature. I encourage residents to plan a visit next month and enjoy what I am sure will be another superb display of photography.

“We have rich biodiversity and flourishing wildlife in the borough and hopefully this exhibition will help inspire residents of all ages to enjoy the green spaces and nature right here on their doorstep.”

Sean McCormack, founder and Chairman of EWG, said: “We’re incredibly proud and excited that the EWG Photography Exhibition is entering its third year.  We had an amazing response to the exhibition in both 2017 and 2018 – it really does highlight the joy and beauty that can be found in local wildlife and nature. 

“The aim of our annual wildlife photography competition has always been to showcase our natural, wild spaces and celebrate the important relationships between people and wildlife in Ealing.”

Entry to the competition is now closed, but previous winners can be seen on the EWG website.

The EWG is an inclusive community of locals interested in nature and wildlife in the borough and beyond. Since 2016 it has grown steadily in membership and secured funding for several community environmental projects. You can find out more and join up via the EWG facebook group.