Closing date extended for the Teagasc forest photography competition

‘Trees in our lives’

The Teagasc Forestry Development Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have announced an extension to the closing date for the current forest photo competition, which highlights the multiple benefits of ‘Trees in our Lives’.

Due to popular demand, photos for this diverse photo competition, open to all ages (with junior and adult categories), can now continue to be submitted up to 5 pm on Friday, August 22, 2025. This allows additional time and opportunities for budding (non-professional) photographers and photo enthusiasts to get snapping in the wonderful environment of trees and forests, while being in with a chance to win exciting prizes.

‘Trees in our lives’ is a three themed competition that was launched by Teagasc and the Department on May 19, focusing on some of the key tangible benefits from trees and forests in our lives and the world around us.

With its extended closing date, this competition continues to take participants to wonderful settings among trees to enjoy nature, promote wellness and relaxation. Trees and forests provide multiple services for people, ranging from carbon storage and protection of water quality to increased income and employment opportunities, many in rural areas. The right trees, where established in the right places, will enhance the landscape, improve biodiversity, provide shelter and generate additional income.

Up to August 22, participants can continue to submit up to one image for each of the three themes within this competition.

Theme 1: Trees and Water:  In this theme, images are welcomed that capture and reflect the beauty of trees and water in combination. Not only is this a beautiful match, but the right trees in the right places can also have a tremendous practical effect on improving aquatic habitats. Trees have the ability to filter runoff from fields, stabilise riverbanks, regulate temperature, provide food sources and enhance diversity of such environments.

Theme 2: Trees on the Farm:  Our second theme applies to images from 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. The farm landscape can be transformed into an aesthetic pleasure in the presence of trees.

Theme 3: Trees and Biodiversity: Our third theme invites participants to capture images of the wealth of animal and plant life in and around forests and associated with trees. As well as captivating tree species, forest habitats can sustain a vast range of birds, insects, fungi as well as flowering and fruit bearing plants. Forests provide an essential home to a diversity of photogenic species!

Prizes, kindly sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will be awarded for the winner and runner up in each theme and in two age categories, adult and junior. The prizes are €300 for each theme winner in the adult category and €150 for each theme winner in the junior category. A further prize of €300 (adult category) and €150 (Junior category) will be awarded to the overall winners. Runner up prizes are €100 (adult) and €50 (junior).

Details on how to enter can be found here.

This competition will now run up to August 22, 2025 (5pm). Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine very much look forward to viewing all photos submitted.