Competition partner: English Heritage

International Garden Photographer of the Year is proud to run a Special Award photography competition for Walmer Castle and Gardens for the very first time!

Briefing: 'Life through a lens photography competition capturing what makes Walmer wonderful and using Walmer Castle as a focal point,
Capturing all things horticultural; flora and fauna, as well as using the Castle’s gardens and ground, inspiration can be drawn from the surrounding area including the beach.'

About Walmer Castle And Gardens:

"Explore more than eight acres of award-winning gardens in the grounds of a Tudor fortress turned country house. Built on the orders of Henry VIII to defend England's southern shores, Walmer Castle later became a home for the Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports — among them the Duke of Wellington and the Queen Mother.

Discover stories and secrets from the castle's past and see some remarkable objects, including a pair of original Wellington Boots.

There's plenty to enjoy in the glorious gardens, with flower-filled borders, a kitchen garden, wildflower meadows, shady woodland walks, the restored glen garden and the striking yew cloud hedge in the Broadwalk. Kids will love the brilliant play trail through the woods.

Book your visit now to get the best price and get ready for a great value day out at one of Kent's best-loved attractions."

Prizes

First prize:

Your image goes on display at the IGPOTY Walmer Castle and Gardens exhibition (in 2025) and an IGPOTY award certificate.

Prize/s supplied by English Heritage; Private Tour with Head Gardener,
English Heritage shop hamper.

Second prize:

Your image goes on display at the IGPOTY Walmer Castle and Gardens exhibition (in 2025) and an IGPOTY award certificate.

Prize supplied by English Heritage; English Heritage shop hamper.

Third prize:

Your image goes on display at the IGPOTY Walmer Castle and Gardens exhibition (in 2025) and an IGPOTY award certificate.

Prize supplied by English Heritage; English Heritage shop hamper.

Applies to all awarded places - IGPOTY will contact the awarded entrants as necessary, for opt-in contact with English Heritage, in order to facilitate prizes/exhibition events.

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.
• We recommend all images are output to 1920px on their longest side at 72 ppi (ideally with an sRGB colour profile). Any larger than this and you are supplying images bigger than they will be seen or used by IGPOTY judges; your files will take longer to upload and/or download to judges and viewers’ screens.
• The absolute maximum for each image must not be more than 7MB in file size and no more than 3000px on their longest side.
• All entrants must be able to supply a high-res image (300 ppi) suitable for printing/exhibiting should the image 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:

Only photography captured at Walmer Castle and Gardens and its grounds are permitted. Standard admission fees/booking apply. Adults aged 18 years and older may enter only. Each adult entrant is entitled to a maximum of 8x free entry slots only. 'The Wonders of Walmer' entries cannot win the overall IGPOTY prize, nor any other IGPOTY competition prize/s. Staff of Walmer Castle and Gardens/English Heritage 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/redeemed in person at Walmer Castle and Gardens, no cash alternatives. Applies to all awarded places - IGPOTY will contact the awarded entrants as necessary, for opt-in contact with English Heritage, in order to facilitate prizes/exhibition events.

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

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

Who can enter?

This free-to-enter special award is open to everyone (adults only) and is a chance to explore and capture the grounds and gardens of historic Walmer Castle, on the Kent coast.

Selected winners will form part of an exclusive exhibition at the IGPOTY exhibition at Walmer Castle and Gardens this autumn 2025!

Staff of Walmer Castle and Gardens/English Heritage are excluded from entry, however volunteers may enter.