Countryfile Calendar turns 30: the best winning photos since 1991

In the past 30 years, the Countryfile Calendar competition has become one of the biggest photography competitions in the UK. From tiny voles to wide open landscapes, your amazing pictures have raised record amounts for charity through the calendar itself: with the 2021 issue bringing in more than £3million for BBC Children in Need.

Here, we take a look back at some of our most memorable overall winners and judges' favourites from the past three decades.

The Countryfile Calendar for 2022 is now open for entries – see our guide to this year’s competition.

'Tiptoe through the snowdrops', 2022

A squirrel tiptoes through snowdrops with one leg raised as though creeping — Peter Bartholomew, 'Tiptoe Through the Snowdrops,' February 2022.

'Winter Sundown', 2004

Tree silhouetted against a pink and orange sky — Lorraine Harvey, 'Winter Sundown', BBC Countryfile Calendar competition 2004

'Sheep in Spring', 2007

Trees. Wales — Claudia Wass, 'Sheep in Spring', BBC Countryfile Calendar competition 2007

'Spring Lamb', 2008

2007 OW — Richard Peters, 'Spring Lamb', BBC Countryfile Calendar competition 2008

'In-flight meal', 2009

Puffin in mid-flight with fish in its beak. — Richard Steel, ‘In-Flight Meal‘, overall winner of the BBC Countryfile Calendar Competition 2009.

'Rainbow's End', 2013

2012 JF — Jean Burwood, 'Rainbow's End', Judge's Favourite, BBC Countryfile Calendar competition 2013

'On the move', 2013

2012 OW — Dave Foker, ‘On the Move‘, Overall Winner, BBC Countryfile Calendar competition 2013

'Coastline Canter', 2016

2015 JF — Graham Mealand, 'Coastline Canter', BBC Countryfile Calendar competition 2016

'Berry Brunch', 2017

2016 OW — Dean Mason, 'Berry Brunch', BBC Countryfile Calendar competition 2017

'First Flight', 2018

Birds fly over an inlet, with low warm sunlight and clouds — Jarek Kurek, 'First Flight', overall winner in the BBC Countryfile Calendar 2018

'Winter Wanderers', 2018

2017 JF — Kevin Dolby, 'Winter Wanderers', judges‘ favourite in the BBC Countryfile Calendar competition, 2018

'Pole Position', 2019

2018 JF & OW — David White, 'Pole Position', BBC Countryfile Calendar competition, 2019

'Among the Purple Heather', 2021

2020 JF — Shane Stanbridge, 'Among the Purple Heather', BBC Countryfile Calendar competition 2021

Tanya Jackson in red checked shirt and rucksack standing by a wall with a big smile

Tanya JacksonDigital editor

Tanya Jackson is a digital editor and writer for countryfile.com. She lives in Wiltshire and loves campfire cooking, swimming in the sea, rural folklore, barn owls and walking her Welsh collie in the misty hills. Tanya also has a passion for English food and drink – although nothing tastes as good as tomato soup out of a thermos on a crisp woodland walk.