Celebrating Connection: WYC Announces Nature Photography Winners on World Mental Health Day
Today, on World Mental Health Day, Winchester Youth Counselling is proud to unveil the winners of our 2025 Nature Photography Competition, a celebration of the beauty, calm, and connection that time in nature can bring.
The competition, which invited young people and supporters to capture the natural world through their lens, received a fantastic response. From peaceful woodland paths to golden-lit wildlife, each entry reflected the unique and mindful ways we connect with nature, and with ourselves.
We are delighted to announce our overall winner is “Life is a River”
Described by naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham as:
“There is a simplicity of colour, rich greens and blues, a beautiful twisting path of water leading from an anonymous edifice, and it’s all fringed with warmth. It’s lovely, it makes you want to wade there in that twinkling livid stream.”
The winning entrant will receive a £50 cash prize and a voucher generously donated by Hillier.
Our runner-up, “Golden Hour”
A captivating portrait full of light and texture, and as Chris Packham said:
“A wonderful engaging portrait lit by sunset’s glow with all the fine detail of the shabby mane and tickly whiskers, it really couldn’t be better lit. It’s gorgeous. The peeping eye seals it!”
They will receive a £25 voucher from The Photographic Studio in recognition of their brilliant image.
All entries were reviewed with thoughtful reflection by Chris Packham, who shared these inspiring words:
“It’s great to see people looking more deeply into nature using a camera lens to focus that attention. The concentration required to make a photo can be a great way of finding calm, it blocks out the rest of the world.
Photography can offer a chance to see differently. And if you are different, that can be a massive creative asset, a unique vision is rare and often beautiful.
You don’t have to be a nature-nut. Just connect in a simple, childlike way. The colour of a little leaf can connect with you and change your world.”
At Winchester Youth Counselling, we continue to explore the link between the natural world and emotional wellbeing through our Nature Therapy and Walk and Talk sessions offering calm, connection, and space to be.
A huge thank you to everyone who entered, we will be in touch if you have made the top 12 photos shortly. These will be featured in our Capture the Calm 2026 Calendar and congratulations to our winner and runner-up.
We extend a big thank you, also, to Hillier Gardens and Winchester Photographic for sponsoring this competition.
Nature is always there. Take a moment, take a breath, and see what you can discover.