Winners Revealed in Eden Project’s Wildflower Photo Competition

The Eden Project has announced the winners of its first-ever Wildflower Photographer of the Year competition, celebrating the beauty and diversity of British wildflowers.

Celebrating 25 Years of the National Wildflower Centre

Revealed on November 10th, the competition marked the 25th anniversary of the National Wildflower Centre (NWC) and was held in partnership with the Canary Wharf Group. Hundreds of entries poured in from across the UK, from the Shetlands to Sark, capturing the variety, beauty and fragility of the nation’s wildflower habitats.

📷Amateur Category - Highly Commended, ‘In the pinks’ by Emma Eccles, Sea thrift at Trebarwith Strand, Cornwall

The Winning Photographs

Justin Minns took the Professional category with an atmospheric image of wild garlic in Chalkney Wood, Essex. The Amateur winner was Damien Walmsley, who captured a stunning poppy field in Kinver, Staffordshire. The Young People’s award went to M. Stanway for a beautiful photograph of Cornish heather.

Each category winner receives a cash prize, and their images feature in the Wildflower Photographer of the Year Exhibition, now open at the Eden Project in Cornwall until February.

Highly commended entries include Edyta Rice (Professional), Emma Eccles (Amateur), and Alex Iftode (Young People).

📷Amateur Category - Winner, ‘Cool light on the poppies’ by Damien Walmsley, Taken at Kinver, Staffordshire

Judged by Leading Photographers

The competition was judged by renowned flower and garden photographers Clive Nichols and Molly Holman, along with the National Wildflower Centre Team.

Clive said:

“This competition has been an opportunity to enjoy a magnificent showcase of the wildflowers blooming in UK habitats. The winning photos truly encapsulate the beauty, kaleidoscope of colours and diversity of the wildflowers that we’re lucky enough to have growing across our country.”

📷Professional Category - Highly Commended, ‘Bluebell Dawn in Dartmoor’ by Edyta Rice, Taken at Emsworthy, Dartmoor

A Tribute to British Wildflowers

Juliet Rose, Head of Development at the Eden Project, said:

“We’re delighted to crown the winners of our first-ever Wildflower Photographer of the Year competition. Biodiversity is in crisis, and people are less connected with nature than ever. We hope that by marking the NWC’s 25th anniversary with this competition, the vital importance of wildflowers will be brought to the public’s attention, while also celebrating their remarkable beauty. Here’s to another 25 years of protecting wildflowers!”

Founded in Knowsley, Liverpool, in 2001, the National Wildflower Centre has worked for 25 years to reverse the decline of British wildflower habitats. Since joining the Eden Project in 2017, with support from the Esmée Fairburn Foundation, the NWC has continued to bring colour and life to communities across the UK.

📷Young Person’s Category (ages 13-17) Highly Commended, ‘Oasis’ by Alex Iftode, Beach bindweed at Perran Sands (Haven Perran Sands Holiday Park)

Exhibitions at the Eden Project

The Wildflower Photographer of the Year Exhibition features the winning images, highly commended entries, and a selection of favourites chosen by the NWC Team.

It runs alongside an exhibition by longtime Eden Project Artist in Residence, John Dyer, whose Spirit of the Harvest series celebrates plant biodiversity through paintings from around the world, including Costa Rica, the Philippines and Peru.

Both exhibitions will remain on display throughout the winter months, ahead of the Eden Project’s 25th anniversary year in 2026.

From November 22nd, visitors can also enjoy the Eden Project’s Christmas offering, with light displays, a Father Christmas experience and an undercover ice rink.

To find out more and book tickets, visit https://www.edenproject.com/wildlflower-photographer-of-the-year-exhibition.

📷Young Person’s Category (ages 13-17) Winner, ‘Wild in Purple’ by M. Stanway, Purple heather at the Eden Project, Cornwall

Eden Project Admission:

Adults from £38, children from £12, under-fives free. Universal, Pension and UK Legacy Credit £10.
Residents of Devon and Cornwall can save up to 35% with a Locals’ Pass from £23 per adult and £10 per child, available year-round.

All proceeds support the Eden Project’s charitable work in Cornwall, across the UK and around the world. Learn more at www.edenproject.com/mission.

📷Professional Category - Winner, ‘Misty Magic’ by Justin Minns, Wild garlic at Chalkney Woods, Essex