SCARCE butterflies, frosty landscapes, rare weevils and a buzzing bumblebee are just some of the fantastic images that have won pride of place in an annual photography competition.

Twelve winning images will be showcased in conservation charity Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s 2018 calendar, which highlights the glory and diversity of the county’s wildlife and wild places.

The annual competition runs from November to April each year and is open to any photographer taking images of wildlife and wildlife-friendly places across Worcestershire.

Staff at the Trust are helped in their judging by Jason Curtis of Wild about Wildlife Photography and Pete Walkden of Pete Walkden Photography, both local wildlife photographers and previous winners of the competition.

The winning images will appear as full A4 pages in the calendar, with a further 20 photographers having their images appear as smaller insets.

Wendy Carter, organiser of the competition for the trust, said “We had a fantastic response to this year’s competition with more than 330 images entered by 60 photographers and we’d like to thank everyone who entered.

"Judging so many fabulous entries was really hard but we think we’ve got another beautiful calendar that really does show Worcestershire at its best whilst also celebrating the talent of our local photographers.

"Over the last few competitions we’ve noticed a real increase in the number of photos that have been taken in people’s gardens, which just goes to show how we can all do a little something to help wildlife where we live.

"Watching wildlife wherever you are – whether it’s in your garden, in a local greenspace or at your nearby nature reserve – can be incredibly rewarding and exciting."

The calendar is available now and costs £7, with all profits supporting the trust's work.

The full list of winning photos and photographers is as follows:

January – Castlemorton Common by Rebecca Fox, from Powick

February – Swan at Avon Meadows by Sarah Fowle, from Pershore

March – Cowslips at Eades Meadow by Ruth Bourne, from Droitwich

April – Aspen leaf-rolling weevils at Trench Wood nature reserve by Lyndon Bracewell, from Worcester

May – Small pearl-bordered fritillaries in the Wyre Forest by David Oliver, from Kidderminster

June – Broadway sunset by Kate Barry, from Badsey

July – Common carder bee in garden by Rosemary Morris, from Inkberrow

August – Hedgehog in garden by Roger King, from Lower Broadheath

September (and overall winner) – Nuthatch at Pepper Wood by John Caswell, from Bromsgrove

October – Fungi on Peachfield Common by Simon Lampitt, from Malvern

November – Knapp and Papermill nature reserve by Dave Butler, from Worcester

December – Waxwing in Worcester by Magnus McLeod, from Worcester