The competition is part of NMSB’s goal to raise much needed funds for the Oakhaven Hospice Beaverbrook 30 for 30 Challenge.

We had a great response to the photography competition launched in October to find twelve inspiring nature and wildlife photographers, one for each month in their 2023 calendar, and all from the local area.

Budding photographers were encouraged to capture shots of local wildlife – from birds and bugs to plants and animals – all taken within the New Forest area, including Lymington, Milford on Sea, New Milton, Barton on Sea and Highcliffe.

The judges consisted of Carmen Green, Senior Ecologist at the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Steve West, Photographer for the New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times, Natalie Hutchins, Oakhaven’s Corporate Fundraiser and Rob Flower, MD for New Milton Sand and Ballast.

All winners will be celebrating with an afternoon tea at Oakhaven Hospice on 23 Nov 2022 to receive their vouchers and launch the calendar.

The calendar will be sold throughout December 2022 at the NMSB Head Office, at Oakhaven Hospice, as well as at Wessex Photography shops. The calendar will cost £8.50 with the majority of funds going to Oakhaven Hospice, and the remainder going to Impress with Print who will be kindly producing the calendars at a minimal cost.

Part of a six-month fundraising campaign, NMSB is aiming to raise a total of £10,000 for Oakhaven Hospice between October 2022 to March 2023.

Rob Flower, MD for New Milton Sand and Ballast said: ‘We were so impressed with the quality of the photos submitted; it was lovely to see the the variety of wildlife captured. We ended up with 13 winners due to the difficulty in selecting only 12 for the calendar. Well done to everyone. We hope this will be shared with many people and raise much needed funds for Oakhaven.’