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

Shot near York, England

Shot in Buttermere, Lake District

Shot in Bushy Park, London

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

Shot on Howick Hall Farm, New Longton, Preston

Shot in Bushy Park, London

Shot on the track from West Hanney to Grove, Oxfordshire

Molesey Heath, England

Shot in Donna Nook, Lincolnshire

Taken in Loch Lomond, Scotland

Shot in Cairngorms, Scotland