To celebrate the launch of our new Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategies, Havant Borough Council is teaming up with The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre to launch our public photography competition.   

Raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity and climate action, the winning photographs, chosen and short listed by a panel of judges, will be professionally exhibited at The Spring from 18 March to 16 May 2025.

The competition has five categories for those aged 25 and over, with a special category for the under 25’s:

Under 25’s vision - a special category to share the perspective of younger residents on our local environment, climate, and the natural world
Nature and us - showcasing the interplay between people and the environment, nature or weather, celebrating harmony or addressing conflict 
Environmental guardians - highlighting individuals or communities taking steps to protect our local area, from conservation efforts to sustainable practices
Hidden worlds - capturing the beauty and often unseen miniature natural world through close-up macro photography
Changing places - depicting transformations and impacts of climate change in our local landscapes and environments, whether due to human activity, restoration efforts, or natural processes 
Wildlife wonders - showcasing the diversity and richness of local flora, fauna, and fungi, celebrating all species and capturing fascinating behaviours, beauty, or the challenges they face. 

The below includes competition details, submission guidelines and exhibition information. If you have any further questions, please contact us on askus@havant.gov.uk.  

Submission information  

  • Submissions are open to all members of the public, including those who live within or outside of the borough, but the competition is aimed at amateur photographers   
  • Photographs must be taken within the borough of Havant. Please specify in your submission where in the borough the photograph was taken 
  • Entries must be submitted into one of the competition categories as outlined above. These categories are open to personal interpretation; however, we are looking for photographs that highlight the beauty and diversity of our borough 
  • Entries must be submitted as digital copies only in a high-resolution format
  • You can submit as many entries, in as many categories, as you wish. Please submit each entry individually
  • Images do not have to be taken specifically during the competition timeframe, submissions can include photos from your archives 
  • Entrants under the age of 16 will require permission of a parent or guardian to enter. All contact will be made through the parent/guardian, so please provide the parent/guardian’s contact information on submission 
  • All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The entrants must be the sole owner of copyright in all photographs entered 
  • For photographs that feature people, the permissions of those people featured must be obtained. For photographs that feature children under the age of 16, the permissions of the parents or guardians of those children must be obtained 
  • Entrants must not have breached any laws when taking their photographs.  
  • Havant Borough Council and The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre take no responsibility for any copyright disputes arising from photographs submitted without proper permissions 
  • Entrants will retain copyright of the photographs that they submit. By entering the competition, all entrants grant Havant Borough Council the right to use photographs for future communications, promotional materials, and related purposes in perpetuity. Credits will be given to the photographers where possible 
  • No fees will be payable for any of the above uses 
  • Digital photography does allow for image enhancement. Cropping the image to improve composition and colour enhancements are acceptable, however we will not accept composite images i.e. entries that stitch two or more separate photographs together to make one image, or entries that superimpose elements photographed separately onto an image
  • Participants agree to these terms when submitting entries and Havant Borough Council and The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre reserve the right to exclude any entry from the competition at any time and in its discretion if we have reason to believe that an entrant has breached any of these rules
  • Please stay safe, act responsibly and respectfully of the wildlife, nature, and habitats when taking photographs. Always follow the Countryside Code
  • For information about licenses for photographing wildlife please follow the guidance here: www.gov.uk/guidance/wildlife-licenses and www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-specides-when-to-appy-for-a-licence-to-survey-film-or-photograph-them

To submit 

Please provide the following information with each submission:

  • The photographer’s full name and contact email address
  • Title of the photograph 
  • Location of where the photograph was taken 
  • Category under which the photograph is being submitted 
  • The inspiration behind the photograph  
  • If you are submitting a photograph on behalf of someone else, you must confirm you have the explicit permission of the photographer to do so 
  • All entries must be submitted by Sunday 23 February 2025. All entries received after this date unfortunately cannot be considered.  

Submit your photo for the Climate and Biodiversity Photography Competition.

Shortlisting and exhibition 

  • A panel of judges from Havant Borough Council and The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre will select a shortlist of photographs from each category to be exhibited at The Spring 
  • Judging will be based on the following criteria: Appropriateness to the chosen category, technical ability, composition, public appeal, originality and suitability to be included in a public exhibition  
  • The decision of the judging panel is final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the selection process 
  • The shortlisted photographs will be printed and installed by Havant Borough Council and The Spring, who will cover all associated printing and exhibition costs 
  • Shortlisted photographers will be notified after judging has taken place. They will also be invited to attend a private viewing event at The Spring on Monday 17 March 2025 at 6.30pm where they may bring a plus one 
  • The winners will be announced at the private event  
  • The public exhibition will run until 16 May 2025. 
  • After the exhibition, photographers may choose to either: Keep their printed version of the photograph OR Donate the printed photograph to The Spring or another local organisation (if they would like to accept the donation) 

If you have any questions, please contact askus@havant.gov.uk. Good luck to everyone taking part!