To celebrate nature in our neighbourhoods,  City Parks are launching a new Space to Thrive photography competition!

This time we are looking for your snaps on the theme: ‘Bees, Pollinators and Insects’

Finalists images will be displayed in an outdoor gallery, at Oaklands Park, in the grounds of the Museum of Chelmsford,  August 2025.

One overall winner will also take home extra goodies to help support ‘bees, pollinators and insects’ in their area.

Competition opens: 9am Tuesday 20 May and closes: 11:59pm Sunday 29 June. Entries submitted outside of this time will not count. You can enter ONE image per category, per person.  All entrants must live in the Chelmsford City Council area. proof of ID and address may be requested at any point in the competition.

Entry form: Space to Thrive – photography competition – Entry form – Love Your Chelmsford

Why did we choose this theme?

Did you know recent results of the 2024 Bugs Matter Citizen science survey (by Buglife and Kent Wildlife Trust) has again shown a fall in the number of flying insects. Although the rate of decline had slowed, there is still more we can do. Bees, Pollinators and Insects of all kinds are a vital part of our ecosystem.

We can all do something to help make Chelmsford a Space to Thrive. Whether you are entering this competition or not, here are a few things you might want to try, to support nature in your neighbourhood:  create a pollinator project such as starting a garden meadow or creating a pollen rich window basket, make your own bee or bug hotel. For a bit of inspiration you can see some of the bug hotels City Parks have made already here

What we are looking for:

The competitions theme is: Space to Thrive for ‘Bees, Pollinators and Insects’

We want you to share your best images of ‘bees, pollinators and insects’ from around Chelmsford. Whether it’s from your garden, local park, town centre or just buzzing by, we want to see your bee, pollinator and insect pictures.

There are two categories. Finalists will be made up of five top picks from category one, and two top picks from category two. So there will be seven finalists in total, from which one overall winner will be selected.

You can enter ONE image per category per person – proof of ID and address may be requested.

Category one – Nature on show

‘Bee’s, Pollinators and Insects’ – Nature on show, images should include ‘bees, pollinators and insects’ going about their daily insect lives. Please be mindful of your surroundings when taking photographs, no creatures or habitats should be destroyed or distressed when trying to take your image. Five images will be selected as top picks from this category.

Here are a few ideas to get you started, images could include:

• Pollinators in action
• Beetles heading home
• Spiders hanging out
• Bees, Pollinators and Insects in their habitats

Category two – Bee-ing inspired

It can be hard to capture these busy creatures as they buzz or trundle on by, so we have created a second category on the theme ‘bees, pollinators and insects’ called Bee-ing inspired. These images do not need to include insects, but should still be related to the theme ‘bees, pollinators and insects’. Two images will be selected as top picks from this category.

Here are a few ideas to get you started, images could include:

• Bee or bug hotels
• Pollinating gardens or baskets
• Key insect habitats like meadows and ponds
• Public art work on the theme ‘Bees, Pollinators and Insects’*

*Artists should be credited in the title of image when entering. Some art work may have copyright restrictions which should be checked before submission. All images of art works displayed in Chelmsford City Parks will be accepted, as well as images of preparations for the upcoming Buzz in the City art trail by Farleigh Hospice.

Prizes

The finalists of the competition will have their images displayed in an outdoor gallery at Oaklands Park in August 2025 (on correx boards of approximately A1 size*).

All finalists will also be presented with a certificate, Space to Thrive tote bag and local honey (made by the fantastic Chelmsford Beekeepers association). One overall winner will also win a beekeepers taster session (currently scheduled for 11:30 6th September at Hylands Park) and other pollinator goodies.

All finalists will be invited to a presentation at Oaklands Park to officially launch the opening of the outdoor gallery. The presentation will take place at 10:30am on Friday 8 August 2025.

*please note due to the way the images will need to be fixed, they can not be provided to the finalists once the gallery is over.

Key Competition dates:

Opens: 9:00am Tuesday 20 May 2025

Closes: 11:59pm Sunday 29 June 2025

Judging will take place during July 2025

Finalists will be announced from the week of 21 July 2025 (finalists will also be contacted directly during this week)

An overall winner will be announced in August 2025

All announcements will be made across the Love Your Chelmsford platforms.

Gallery opening and finalist presentation:

All Finalist will be invited to a presentation to celebrate their work and mark the official opening of the outdoor gallery at Oaklands Park on Friday 8 August 2025.

Note to finalists: The finalist presentation is currently planned to take place at around 10:30am, further details will be provided. If a finalist cannot make the presentation time, this will not preclude their image from being displayed.

Who can enter:

Anyone living in the Chelmsford City Council area (a full address will be required to enter, and proof of address maybe requested from finalists). We ask that under 16s gain permission to enter from a parent, carer or guardian. Only one entry per category, per person will be accepted.

How to enter:

Step 1: Take your picture* 

Step 2: Go to the entry form

Step 3: Complete the entry form, upload your image (in JPEG or HEIC format).

Images should be:

• Minimum file size 3MB (3000kb).
• Maximum file size 4MB (4000kb).
• Please ensure all images are in focus and clear – we usually aim for a photo of 300dpi (Dots per Inch) for printing.

The competition is free to enter. Entry into the competition is only accepted via the Love Your Chelmsford website competition entry form and not via e-mail, post, social media or any other means.

Should your image be chosen as a finalist, we may re-request another copy of the original image and proof of ID.

See here for Full Rules, Terms & Conditions

*For entrants where images include identifiable people, you must complete and submit the relevant photo consent form/s with your entry. If the identifiable person is under 16, the form will need to be completed by the child’s legal guardian. Further proof of consent maybe requested should your image be selected as a top pick.

See here for the Adults (over 16s) photo consent form

See here for the Under 16s photo consent form

How the Finalists are decided:

Finalists will be chosen by the City Parks team, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for a Greener Chelmsford and our fantastic guest judges:

• Brian Spencer – Chair of the Chelmsford Beekeepers Association, who look also after the Museum of Chelmsford Bees
• Tony Briggs – Photographer, Apiarist and owner of organic bee keeping business PLAN BEE

Tony Briggs PLAN BEE recently installed a rooftop beehive at Chelmsford’s Civic Centre, you can find more on this project at Chelmsford City Life.

The decision of the judges will be final. Finalists may be asked for further proof of address and age (e.g. drivers’ licence). Any finalists under 16, who attended the finalists presentation should be accompanied by their parent, carer or guardian, who should bring their own ID in lieu of the person under 16.

An overall winner will be chosen via an online public pole in late July.

Good luck and happy snapping!

You can contact us for assistance or report an issue with entry form by emailing us at: Services.Parks@chelmsford.gov.uk