Local Wildlife Trust’s award-winning photographers crowned

A common frog captured in a golden pool has taken the top prize in a wildlife photography contest.

The image of the amphibian was taken by Peter Smith at Letcombe Valley in Oxfordshire.

The photographer leapfrogged the competition in the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust’s photography contest.

There were eight more winners in categories ranging from “nature on your doorstep” to “mobile phone photography”.

Reflecting on his winning snap, Mr Smith said: “I knew that common frogs congregate every year to breed in a small pond at Letcombe, but no one knows exactly when they will do so, only that it is usually in February.

“So I kept an eye on the local nature reports for any hint of it starting, as well as visiting Letcombe several times until I finally got the right day.

“I managed to capture this individual in the late afternoon sun with the reflections from the background foliage making the water appear golden.”

He received a smart bird-feeder camera and bird-feeding goodies and along with all other winners he will get the chance to take on a wildlife photography masterclass.

Their images will also appear in the Wildlife Trust’s calendar for 2026.

A panel of judges went through more than 250 photographs to choose their winners for this year’s competition.