Incredible images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition return to Yorkshire's Sewerby Hall

Now incredible photographs, on loan from London's Natural History Museum, shine a light on the wonders and the fragility of life in the natural world.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, to return to Yorkshire's Sewerby Hall and Gardens this year, also shares an important environmental message.

These are images that capture an insight into the fascinating world of animal behaviour, while advocating for the future of species and the planet.

The winning images were announced last October at an awards show hosted by wildlife presenters Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin.

To Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, they paint a poignant portrait of a world worth protecting.

"We are facing urgent biodiversity and climate crises, and photography is a powerful catalyst for change," he said.

"The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition reveals some of nature’s most wondrous sights whilst offering hope and achievable actions visitors can take to help protect the natural world."

This is an exhibition that is world-renowned, taking in the breadth of diversity of the natural world to both encourage and inspire.

First launched in 1965, the competition is now among the most prestigious of its kind, featuring some of the best images from around the world.

This year there were 49,957 entries from photographers spanning all levels of experience, and from 95 different countries.

The hope is through the “unique” and emotive power of photography, the competition can inspire people to think differently about their relationship with nature.

Judges looked at creativity, originality, and the technical excellence of submissions.

Chair of the judging panel, Kathy Moran says: "What most impressed the jury was the range of subjects, from absolute beauty, rarely seen behaviours and species to images that are stark reminders of what we are doing to the natural world.

"We felt a powerful tension between wonder and woe that we believe came together to create a thought-provoking collection of photographs."The exhibition comes to Yorkshire's Sewerby Hall and Gardens from May 14, and runs until July.

Coun Nick Coultish, cabinet member for East Riding Council for culture, leisure and tourism, said it was "superb" to hear of its return to the region.

"The exhibition has rightly proved hugely popular there for the last two years, and its unique mix of powerful and stunning images with underlying important environmental messages will prove another great reason to visit Sewerby Hall in 2024," he said.