Countryfile Calendar 2018 Competition: winner and finalists

The 2018 Countryfile Photographic Competition has been a huge success, with more than 30,000 photos entered.

Chair of the judging panel, John Craven, said: "I’ve been involved with the Countryfile calendar since the very start and I have to say that this is one of the best ever. The standard has been incredibly high."

And now the Countryfile team have picked the overall winner, Jarek Kurek with his photo 'First Flight' shot in Bushy Park, London.

The theme for this year's competition was “Call of the Wild”. The best 12 photographs of beautiful landscapes, wildlife and other rural scenes were chosen by previous winners and the final judging panel of John Craven, Deborah Meaden from Dragon’s Den and wildlife cameraman Simon King.

Judge, Deborah Meaden, said: "The final 12 really stand out because they are not only photographically excellent but also evoke the theme – ‘’Call of the Wild’’ – beautifully."

The 12 images were featured in the Countryfile Calendar for 2018, which is sold in aid of BBC Children In Need.

Here are the 12 Countryfile Calendar 2018 finalists

Shot in Stainborough Park, Barnsley

_{<em>BBC Countryfile</em> finalist for January is Kevin Dolby with his deer in the snow shot}

Shot near York, England

_{These lovebirds feature in the<em> BBC Countryfile </em>February shot taken by John Pate}

Shot in Buttermere, Lake District

_{A lone tree is the simple yet dramatic March finalist image by Adrian Harrison}

Shot in Bushy Park, London

_{<em>BBC Countryfile</em> finalist for April is this reflective shot by Sue Lindenberg}

Shot taken on the river bank at Bidford upon Avon, Warwickshire

_{The BBC Countryfile calendar May finalist is this cosy shot by Colin Powell}

Shot on Howick Hall Farm, New Longton, Preston

_{This tiny climber is the June BBC Countryfile Calendar shot taken by finalist Phillip Green}

Shot in Bushy Park, London

_{Bushy Park in London provided the backdrop for this Countryfile Calendar shot by July finalist Jarek Kurek}

Shot on the track from West Hanney to Grove, Oxfordshire

_{Beautiful butterflies provide inspiration to the Countryfile Calendar August finalist Alison Rosum}

Molesey Heath, England

_{A horse on the horizon is the Countryfile Calendar September image. Taken by Caroline Green}

Shot in Donna Nook, Lincolnshire

_{Time for a snooze? Geoffrey Baker's sleepy seal shot is the October Countryfile Calendar finalist}

Taken in Loch Lomond, Scotland

_{Taking a load off. The Countryfile Calendar competition November finalist Michael Cheetham took this shot in Loch Lomond, Scotland}

Shot in Cairngorms, Scotland

_{Countryfile Calendar December finalist is this flighty shot by Nick Carter in the Cairngorms, Scotland}