IGPOTY is delighted to be running a photo competition for Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) for the 4th time. This free-to-enter Special Award is open to everyone (adults only), and the competition is dedicated to images captured at BBG, one of the most significant botanical gardens in the UK, located in Edgbaston. Focus on the flora of the Botanical Gardens and in situ shots of plants within the Gardens. People should not be included in entries.

A curated selection of awarded images from this Special Award will form part of an exclusive exhibition at the IGPOTY exhibition, when it tours to Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) in 2026.

“Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a rich, uniquely biodiverse natural environment and one of the UK’s most significant historic Botanic Gardens. Situated one mile from the city centre, this is Birmingham’s Garden: its green and generous heart.
 
For almost two centuries the Gardens has shared J.C. Loudon’s original 1829 garden design and collection of 30,000 plants and trees with millions of people and has been an integral part of Birmingham’s physical, educational, cultural and social landscape. Today the Gardens is an independent charity relying on sales from our tickets, cafe, garden shop and individual giving.
 
The biodiversity of plant life at the Gardens is unparalleled in central England and shares a range of botanical life that is of unique scientific value, some of which is rare and now critically endangered in the wild.”

Discounted entry to Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG)! Please use the promo code: FOCUS26 for 20% off discount on day admission.

Terms:

• Online bookings only via the BBG website: https://birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk
• Discount for up to 5 tickets per customer, per booking.
• Offer available until 12pm (midday/local time), on 27th March 2026.
• Only active for online sales.
• Not valid for special events.
• Code provided by BBG.

Prizes

First prize:

• 1st Place awarded photo exhibited at the IGPOTY Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) exhibition in 2026 and an IGPOTY award certificate.

Special prizes awarded by BBG:

• 1 Year Free Membership to the Gardens (which includes a transferable plus one for each visit and free parking),
• 2 tickets for a (BBG) Gardens Cinema or Theatre event of your choice (Summer 2026).

Second prize:

• 2nd Place awarded photo exhibited at the IGPOTY Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) exhibition in 2026 and an IGPOTY award certificate.

Special prizes awarded by BBG:

• Family ticket for one visit to the Gardens (Summer 2026),
• 2 tickets for a (BBG) Gardens Cinema or Theatre event of your choice (Summer 2026).

Third prize:

• 3rd Place awarded photo exhibited at the IGPOTY Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) exhibition in 2026 and an IGPOTY award certificate.

Special prizes awarded by BBG:

• 2 tickets for a (BBG) Gardens Cinema or Theatre event of your choice (Summer 2026).

General rules:

• You may not submit watermarked images with your name or website visible on the photo. Please do not frame your images with borders.
• Entrants may submit a maximum of 4 images per single entry token and a maximum of 6 images per portfolio entry token.
• For free-to-enter competitions you should enter 1 image per token given, up to a maximum of 8 images (8 tokens).
• Entrants' images must be .jpg or .jpeg format and of high enough quality.
• All entries (low-res) images should be a maximum of 1920px on their longest side at 72 ppi (ideally with an sRGB colour profile).
• The maximum file size for each initial entry (low-res) image file must not be more than 6MB.
• All entrants must be able to supply a full size high-res image (300 ppi) for each entry, suitable for printing/exhibiting should an entry be shortlisted. You may be asked for this when the time comes.

N.B.

• High-res source file/s need to be at least 3780 pixels (longest side) @ 300 ppi, ideally larger (and ideally with an Adobe RGB (1998) colour profile).

Full competition rules:

Please see the IGPOTY competition rules, which always prevail:
https://igpoty.com/igpoty-rules/

Category rules:

IGPOTY runs juried competitions based on skill, judging will be done jointly by IGPOTY and Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) representative/s.

Special Award entries are not eligible for the Overall IGPOTY prize and cannot win more than one award using the same image(s).

Only photography captured in the glasshouses, gardens and grounds of Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) are permitted, people should not be included. Admission/membership fees and rules apply, (by entering this competition it does not give free access to BBG).

Entries must have been captured within the last 5 years at BBG.

Adults aged 18 years and older may enter only. Birmingham Botanical Gardens Staff are excluded from entry, however volunteers may enter. Any images captured for this competition may not be sold and are only for your personal use. Prizes must be collected in person at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, no cash alternatives. Via separate opt-in consent, Birmingham Botanical Gardens will contact winners to arrange any prizes/associated events, as necessary.

Please see IGPOTY Competition Rules for full terms, which always prevail.

Please use the large, red-outlined 'ENTER NOW' button on this page.

For help please visit our Frequently-Asked-Questions page.