WITH Autumn colours beginning to emerge and leaves dancing in the breeze, the search to find Exeter’s favourite trees begins with a photography competition.

This is the fourth year running that Exeter City Council (ECC) has run the competition, teaming up ECC’s appointed arboricultural contractors Devon Trees Services, who are offering up a series of great prizes.

The person who takes the best image will win a framed photograph of the picture and a Haynes Tree Manual, with the runner-up receiving a framed photograph of their picture. Once again there is also an under-16 category for budding junior photographers, with the same prizes for the winner and runner-up.

The competition is being organised in the run up to National Tree Week – November 25 to December 3.

Cllr Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for Place and City Management, said: “Last year we had more than 70 entries for the competition, with a lovely range of photographs.

"Every year the competition proves a really popular one with locals and once again we can’t wait to see people’s entries and get an idea of the trees people love in Exeter.”

People can upload their pictures using the following link: https://bit.ly/3ZIP1OP , or alternatively email their entry to: [email protected] .

Alternatively, pictures can be sent to: Public Realm Trees, room 3.32, civic centre, Exeter EX1 1JN.

Entries must be clearly marked "ECC tree photo competition" and have a name, age (if under 16 years) of photographer and an accurate location of the tree and the date the picture was taken (images must have been taken after October 1, 2023).

The closing date for entries is November 10 but get snapping before Autumn winds blow all the leaves off the trees!

Pictures can be with or without people but must include a tree from within Exeter.

They can be selfies, arty shots, black and white or colour images. They might be fun shots with children, friends or family in or just a simple shot of your favourite tree. If there are people in the shot, please ensure that they have given their permission to be photographed.

Pictures must have been taken recently – after October  1, 2023 – and images submitted for previous competitions will not be allowed. There is a maximum of two entries per person.

The competition is open to everyone – whether living in Exeter or outside – but entrants must be amateur photographers.

The City Council reserve the right to reproduce any pictures submitted in future publications, online stories or social media posts.

A judging panel will decide the best pictures and prizes awarded to the best adult and runner-up and best junior entry and runner-up.

National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season (November to March each year).  Further information about national events can be found on the Tree Council website at: https://treecouncil.org.uk/seasonal-campaigns/national-tree-week/ .