A LOCAL conservation charity is inviting photographers from Redditch, Bromsgrove and Droitwich to try their hand at a competition and raise some money at the same time.

The Worcester wildlife Trust is launching its annual photography competition, which is open to photographers across the county.

The organisers are looking for images that reflect the diversity of the Worcestershire countryside, and winning photographs will feature in the charity’s 2014 calendar.

Wendy Carter, communications manager for the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, said: “We’ve been running the competition for four years and we’re always really impressed by the talented photographers that enter.

“We usually get 150-200 photographs entered and, even though it’s already really difficult to choose winners, we’re hoping for many more photographs this year.”

In previous years the competition has only allowed photographs that were taken on one of the trust’s nature reserves, but this year, it is allowing images of wildlife and wild places from anywhere in the county.

Ms Carter added: “We’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful county with some wonderful species of wildlife. And while our nature reserves are obviously great for wildlife, we realise that most people enjoy watching wildlife in their gardens, villages and local parks.

“Wherever people watch wildlife, we’d encourage them to have a camera handy to make sure they capture the action.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a field of flowers dancing in the breeze, the struggle of wildlife trying to survive winter or adapt to a peopled environment, or a child’s first encounter with wildlife; we’re looking for striking and inspiring images of the wonder of Worcestershire’s natural world.”

The 12 winning images will feature in the trust’s 2014 calendar, with the overall winner taking pride of place on the front cover.

The closing date for entries is Monday, April 22 2013 and entry forms can be downloaded from worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/photography-competition.