This year's competition attracted an impressive 135 entrants, of whom more than half were in the young person's category - aged 17 and under. An exhibition of prize winning and other highly commended photographs is on display at the Arboretum until Sunday 27 November 2011.

The competition was launched back in April, with visitors to the Arboretum encouraged to capture images relating to the themes of 'Lest We Forget' and 'The Natural World of the National Memorial Arboretum'. Located in 150 acres of wooded parkland, which is rich in flora and fauna and has over 200 memorials, the Arboretum presents plentiful photographic possibilities.

The 2011 winners are:

Lest We Forget

Under 18
1st Sophie Donnelly - "We will remember them"
2nd John Hardy - "Kneel" 
3rd Louis Crossley - "A place at rest"

Adult
1st Howard Bagshaw - "Comrades in Arms"  
2nd Tony Cowdrill - "The Last Post"
3rd Lesley Hextall - "Bleak Contemplation" 

Natural World 

Under 18
1st Connor Charles - "Flora and Fauna"
2nd Emma Cleall - "Searching for a Star"
3rd David Law - "Flora and Fauna"

Adult
1st Darren Fitzjohn - "Blossom over lost comrades"
2nd Jayne Gilbert - "Stark Reality"
3rd David Millington - "Butterfly Feeding" 

The organisers also created a special prize for children under the age of ten years, which was awarded to Lewis Ball, aged 5, for his photograph "My brother photographs the heroes". The best audio visual presentation went to David Morland for his short film "Inquisitive mind of a child".

Competition organiser and NMA Friends committee member, David Faul, said: "This year's competition has been especially well supported and we received some really outstanding photographic entries. We were particularly impressed with the quantity and quality of entries in the young person's categories, which included participation from two local schools."

While young people were able to enter the competition for free, adults paid a small entry fee, the proceeds of which went directly to the Arboretum, which is a registered charity. Click here for details of prizes and for more information on the 2011 competition.

Winning entries will be published in our gallery.

"Comrades in Arms" by Howard Bagshaw - winner of the 2011 Photographic Competition