Cambridge University Botanic Garden has partnered with the International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) exhibition to offer a new, free-to-enter special competition to its visitors – to capture the spirit and beauty of the Garden. IGPOTY is one of the world’s most respected photography competitions, exhibiting garden, plant, flower and botanical photography and each year runs an international competition which tours across the UK and over the world.
This newly launched competition to capture the spirit and beauty of CUBG will run alongside the main IGPOTY exhibition and is free to enter.
The photography competition is open to adults over 18 and will run until 31 October this year, providing visitors the opportunity to capture the Garden over two of the most beautiful and changing seasons.
CUBG’s Director Beverley Glover says: “The Garden is such a source of inspiration for so many and there is a lot to see and capture on camera, especially over the coming summer and autumn months. We really hope our visitors will relish exploring the Garden as the lockdown restrictions ease and enjoy seeing it with fresh eyes, capturing this on camera and sharing what appeals to them and what the Garden means to them.”
With 40 acres of different landscapes and a plant collection from all over the world, there is always something different to capture.
Beverley continues: “This year is also the 175th anniversary since the Garden was founded on this site. Parts of it have changed over time and yet it still retains much of its heritage layout, unique design and charm. Our plant collection supports worldwide scientific research and teaching as well as being a source of inspiration for our visitors, so that’s another angle entrants may wish to explore too.
"There’s also the sheer beauty and colour of our plants as well as the diversity of what we have in our collection – from the smallest plants that live on tops of mountains, to those that live in the deserts, as well as old, rare and endangered plants that we are conserving. We can’t wait to see what our visitors capture – at different times of the day and across the seasons.”
Image (top): Mediterranean Beds at Cambridge University Botanic Garden
About the competition
The competition is open now and will close on 31 October at midday. Entrants can submit up to eight images. First prize will be one year’s joint membership to the Garden and a bespoke, private behind-the-scenes tour of the Garden followed by afternoon tea in the Garden Café for up to four people; a signed copy of the garden's new ‘Director’s Choice’ guidebook; a signed certificate. The winning image will be exhibited at the Garden during the IGPOTY exhibition.
The second prize will consist of a complimentary visit to the Garden with afternoon tea in the Garden Café for two people and a signed ‘Director’s Choice’ guidebook; a signed certificate The image will also be exhibited at the Garden during the IGPOTY exhibition.
Third prize will be a complimentary visit to CUBG for two people and a signed ‘Director’s Choice’ guidebook; a signed individual certificate and the image will be exhibited at the Garden during the IGPOTY exhibition.
The winners of ‘The Spirit and Beauty of Cambridge University Botanic Garden’ will have their work on display in the Garden in 2022, as part of the main IGPOTY exhibition.
Winners are likely to be announced in early February 2022 to coincide with the main IGPOTY Competition 15 results.
James McGlinchey, Exhibitions Manager, International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) says: “IGPOTY has exhibited at Cambridge University Botanic Garden for many years, during this time it has become an increasingly popular local event.
"So, it is the perfect time to give visitors their chance to shine by capturing the Garden in its best light for the newly launched special photo competition.”
For all entry details and more information, visit the IGPOTY website here.
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Brookside CUBG by Howard Rice