Forest Photo Competition 2025 – Trees in Our Lives

This competition is organised in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine

‘Trees in our lives’ is a competition with three themes focusing on the multi-functional nature of forests. The competition provides a great opportunity for budding non-professional photographers and photo enthusiasts to get snapping while being in with a chance to win exciting prizes.

View the overall winners | View the category winners and runner-ups here | View 2023 winners here

Trees and forests provide wonderful settings to enjoy nature, particularly in summer. They provide multiple benefits for people, ranging from carbon storage and protection of water quality to increased income and employment opportunities, especially in rural areas. Trees on the farm provide shelter, landscape enhancement and many other benefits.

Overall Winners

The overall winners of the 2025 Teagasc/Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Forest photo competition received their prizes from Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, Michael Healy-Rae, T.D. at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore on Tuesday 16 September.

Adult Category

The overall winner in the adult category is Richard Duff from Portlaoise, County Laois. Richard has had a keen interest in wildlife for many years, and his striking image highlights the great biodiversity and habitat value of forests and trees. His wonderfully vivid photo features a male Great Spotted Woodpecker in Tomnafinogue Wood in County Wicklow. The adult bird is perched on a tree trunk with a caterpillar in its beak, ready to nourish its chick who has emerged from its nesting cavity in eager anticipation.

Junior Category

In the junior category the overall winner is Kendrick Urquhart from Sligo. Kendrick’s winning image features a family of geese on the serene waters of Clare Lake in Claremorris. The background of the setting sun and the autumn colours of the native trees reflecting on the water represented a highly attractive vista which Kendrick ably captured despite the hurry of the geese to get home.

Themes

This year’s competition featured three themes:

• Trees and Water
• Trees on the Farm
• Trees and Biodiversity

Winning Entries

Trees and Water

In this theme we looked for images that capture the beauty of trees and water together. Not only is this combination beautiful but the right trees in the right places can also have a tremendous practical effect on improving water quality. Trees have the ability to filter out runoff from fields and thus reduce pollution entering water courses.

Adult Category Winner – Vera Farrelly, Co. Cavan

This photo was taken at Deerpark Forest, Virginia, Co. Cavan encompassing the trees and water as they surround the bridge

Adult Category Runner-Up – Carmel Byrne, Co. Wicklow

Taken along the banks of the Vartry Reservoir in Roundwood. The reflection of the trees captured in beautiful reflection.

Junior Category Winner – Kendrick Urquhart, Co. Sligo

Kendrick took this photo at Clare Lake in Claremorris. The geese are returning home at the end of the day. The lake was quiet and peaceful and the autumn colours of trees are shining in the water.

Junior Category Runner-Up – Tynan Lawson, Dublin

Long exposure shot of the Edenvale Waterfall in Co. Wexford. 

Trees on the Farm

This theme covered all aspects of trees on the farm – how forests and trees can complement other farming activities and enhance the overall landscape, how trees provide shelter from wind and sun for farm animals and crops, how overall farm sustainability is enhanced by suitably planted trees and how the farm landscape often becomes more beautiful in the presence of trees.

Adult Category Winner – Robert Ledwith, Co. Westmeath

The Scratching Tree, offering shelter and comfort.

Adult Category Runner-Up – Catherine Hosey, Co. Carlow

The peace and tranquility of this early morning scene bring a sense of peace and wonder of the power and strength of nature’s beauty around us while also offering homes, shelter and protection to many animals and insects who live in our farmlands.

Junior Category Winner – James Devins, Co. Sligo

James captured this photograph of the donkey family on his farm. The composition shows the natural harmony between the animals and their environment.  The surrounding trees frame the scene, providing a natural border that draws the eye inward and the connection between the animals and their habitat.

Junior Category Runner-Up – Kate Tennyson, Co. Kilkenny

Sunrise in Kilkenny

Trees and Biodiversity

This theme focused on the animal and plant life in and around forests, how and where forests provide shelter and food for animals including insects, birds and mammals, as well as other flowering plants.

Adult Category Winner – Richard Duff, Co. Laois

Great Spotted Woodpeckers started to breed in Co. Wicklow in Ireland in 2005 and now with mature trees in hedgerows and native woodlands, they have spread right across the country. On Richard’s farm in Ballyfin, Co. Laois, they have at least two pairs breeding in the area.

Adult Category Runner-Up – Helen Moran, Co. Laois

This photo was taken on a woodland lane, between two farms in Co. Offaly. A curious Pine Martin watching from a safe height.

Junior Category Winner – Rossa Bracken, Co. Laois

Friendly Squirrel

Junior Category Runner-Up – Claire Darcy, Co. Galway

“All Creatures Great and Small” – Portumna Forest, Co. Galway