A striking image of a badger admiring street art of himself has captured the public’s imagination, winning the Natural History Museum’s prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60 People’s Choice Award.
Titled No Access, the photo taken by Ian Wood beat 24 other shortlisted images – and 60,000 entries – to claim the top spot. Taken in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, the picture shows a Eurasian badger foraging along a pavement, pausing in front of a graffiti artwork depicting another badger.
“Ian’s flawlessly timed image offers a unique glimpse of nature’s interaction with the human world, underscoring the importance of understanding urban wildlife,” said director of the Natural History Museum, Dr Douglas Gurr, of the winning image.
Ian first noticed badgers venturing onto the streets when local residents began leaving food scraps out for foxes. He set up a small hide near his home and spent evenings watching and waiting for the right moment.
“The outpouring of badger love since my photo was nominated has been beautifully overwhelming,” said Ian. “Finding out that it has won is truly humbling.”
Badgers are the UK’s largest living predator and are crucial in maintaining ecosystem balance. These nocturnal omnivores primarily feast on earthworms but will also eat insects, fruit, and small mammals. Their extensive underground setts, which can be centuries old, create habitats that boost biodiversity.
The image also carries a deeper message. “The badger cull has decimated their numbers,” explained Ian, who was actively involved in rewilding efforts in Dorset. “I fear that unless it is stopped, we’ll only see badgers in urban settings in several parts of England.”
His winning photograph was chosen from almost 60,000 entries to the annual competition, which celebrates the beauty and fragility of the natural world.
Alongside No Access, four other images received Highly Commended recognition. These include Francisco Negroni’s Earth and Sky, which shows lenticular clouds over Chile’s Villarrica volcano, and Jess Findlay’s Edge of Night, which captures a barn owl taking flight from a derelict barn.
Take a look at the other entries below…
No Access and the other finalists will be displayed at the London Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition until 29 June 2025.
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