Portrait of Evicted Fox Wins 2023 British Wildlife Photography Awards

Mar 14, 2023

Jeremy Gray

British Wildlife Photography Awards 2023 — Overall Winner and Urban Wildlife Winner / © Charlie Page / British Wildlife Photography Awards

The winners of the 2023 British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) have been announced. An image of a red fox walking through its destroyed habitat has earned the top prize.

Charlie Page’s winning photo shows a red fox walking through a woodland cut down to make way for an industrial site. “I knew this area was frequented by foxes, and I wanted to take an image with the industrial backdrop to show the devastation caused to this local woodland that the fox calls home,” says Page. “I hope that wildlife photographers aren’t faced with similar scenes in years to come.”

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year was awarded to Billy Evans-Freke. His winning photo features a tawny owlet resting on a tree branch. The RSPB supports the award to encourage young people to become more involved with nature.

“The talented photographers in this year’s competition have given us an exception window into Britain’s nature,” says Will Nicholls, Director of BWPA. “It’s an important reminder of the wildlife and wild spaces that still remain in the UK and are in need of our care and protection.”

The BWPA is an annual showcase of some of the best nature photography in Britain. The competition aims to serve as an essential reminder of the value of Britain’s woodlands, wetlands, and other ecosystems.

Adult photographers competed across 10 categories: Animal Behavior, Animal Portraits, Botanical Britain, Black and White, British Seasons, Coast and Marine, Habitat, Hidden Britain, Urban Wildlife, and Wild Woods. Young photographers competed across three age groups: 11 and under, 12-14 years, and 15-17 years.