British Wildlife Photography Awards 2024 winners announced
“Ocean Drifter” by Ryan Stalker clinched the top spot, showing the impact of human activity on marine ecosystems.
By Vibhuti PathakMar 16, 2024
The British Wildlife Photography Awards for 2024 showcase an array of captivating images capturing the essence of Britain's wildlife and habitats. With over 14,000 submissions, the winning photographs depict everything from urban wildlife to mesmerising courtship rituals and microscopic organisms, highlighting the diverse tapestry of life in the region.
Ian Mason's "Three Frogs in Amplexus" captures common frogs in Perthshire, Scotland, winning the category. (Photo: www.bwpawards.org)
Among the standout images is "Ocean Drifter" by Ryan Stalker, which clinched the top spot. It features a soccer ball adrift in the water, adorned with goose barnacles—an unusual sight that underscores the impact of human activity on marine ecosystems. Stalker's photograph prompts reflection on how our negligence can inadvertently introduce invasive species, disrupting delicate ecological balances.
Mark Williams' "Starling at Night" featuring a common starling in Solihull, West Midlands, England, emerges as the category winner. (Photo: www.bwpawards.org)
Other remarkable entries include dramatic confrontations, intricate mating displays, and glimpses into the hidden world of tiny organisms. Each photograph tells a story of resilience, fragility, and interconnectedness within Britain's natural landscape.
Jason McCombe's "Tiny Forest Balloons" showcases slime mold in Essex, England, securing the category win. (Photo: www.bwpawards.org)
For those eager to delve deeper into the wilderness captured by these talented photographers, the BWPA website offers a rich collection of images. Additionally, a coffee table book featuring this year's winning entries is available for purchase, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in the beauty of British wildlife.
Robin Dodd's "Raven Above Arran" captures a raven on the Isle of Arran, Scotland, claiming the category victory. (Photo: www.bwpawards.org)
As the excitement of the 2024 awards settles, anticipation mounts for the 2025 contest, with submissions open until June 2nd. It's an opportunity for photographers to continue celebrating and documenting the wonders of British wildlife for years to come.
Daniel Valverde Fernandez's "The Tightrope Walker" features a red fox in Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Nottinghamshire, England, earning the category win.(Photo: www.bwpawards.org)
Ross Hoddinott's "Three's a Crowd" showcases a common blue butterfly at Vealand Farm, Devon, England, securing the category win. (Photo: www.bwpawards.org)
Simon Withyman's "Day Walker" captures a red fox in Bristol, England, claiming the category win. (Photo: www.bwpawards.org)
Graham Niven's "Beech for the Sky" depicts a beech tree in East Lothian, Scotland. (Photo: www.bwpawards.org)
HOME SECRETARY Shabana Mahmood has warned that Britain’s failure to control illegal migration is undermining public confidence and weakening faith in government.
Speaking at a summit in London with home ministers from the Western Balkans, Mahmood said border failures were “eroding trust not just in us as political leaders, but in the credibility of the state itself”.
Her comments come as migrant Channel crossings have risen by 30 per cent this year, with 35,500 people making the journey so far. Across Europe, almost 22,000 migrants were smuggled through the Western Balkans in 2024.
Mahmood said only coordinated international action could end the crisis, warning against calls to pull Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) — a move backed by Reform UK and some Conservatives, reported the Telegraph.
“To those who think the answer is to turn inwards or walk away from international cooperation, I say we are stronger together,” she told delegates. “The public rightly expect their government to decide who enters and who must leave.”
Mahmood pointed to new Labour measures, including a deal with France based on a “one in, one out” system, an agreement with Germany to seize smugglers’ boats, and a pact with Iraq to improve border security. Britain has also regained access to key EU intelligence systems.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, dismissed her comments as “meaningless while the pull factors to the UK remain”.
Mahmood’s speech follows a tightening of immigration rules announced this week. From January, foreign workers will need to pass an A-level standard English test to qualify for skilled visas — a step up from the current GCSE level.
Employers will also face a 32 per cent rise in the immigration skills charge, while international graduates will see their post-study work rights cut from two years to 18 months.
The measures are aimed at bringing down net migration, which currently stands at 431,000 after peaking at 906,000 in 2023.
Mahmood has also revised modern slavery rules to stop migrants exploiting loopholes to avoid deportation and authorised the first charter flights returning small boat migrants to France. So far, 26 people have been returned, with plans to increase removals in the coming months.
Her tougher stance comes amid criticism from the opposition. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused the government of “losing control of our borders”, saying record Channel crossings showed that Labour’s policies were failing to deter illegal migration.
He added: “The Conservatives would leave the ECHR, allowing us to remove illegal immigrants within a week. That’s how you stop the boats.”
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