Wild UCL Photography Competition celebrates nature across UCL and beyond

Running as part of 28 Days of Sustainability, the competition invited students and staff to pause, observe and reflect on the natural world around them. From unexpected wildlife encounters to close‑up details of urban biodiversity, entries highlighted how nature thrives in everyday spaces – even within a busy city‑centre university.

Throughout the four‑week competition period, participants were encouraged to submit photographs responding to the Wild UCL theme, celebrating biodiversity, green spaces and connections with nature. Submissions reflected a wide range of perspectives and photographic styles, demonstrating how encounters with nature can inspire creativity, wellbeing and environmental connection.

Wild UCL Category - Weekly Winners

Each week, a winning photograph was selected, showcasing a different interpretation of Wild UCL:

• Week 1 – “Can’t Complain”, photographed by Hyemin Yu (MSc Pharmaceutics), captured in Brunswick Square Gardens, offered a calm moment of everyday nature within the urban campus landscape.
• Week 2 – “Fox Crossing”, by Erin Minnott (LLB Laws), featured a fox spotted near the UCL Darwin lecture theatre, highlighting the presence of urban wildlife in familiar spaces.
• Week 3 – “Common Lizard at MSSL”, taken by Alice Breeveld (Research Fellow), brought attention to biodiversity beyond central London, showcasing wildlife encountered during university‑related research activity.
• Week 4 – “A Whole Wide World in Miniature”, by Sarah Sterlini (Project Officer, UCL200), focused on small‑scale details of nature found in Gordon Square, reminding viewers of the richness contained within even the smallest green spaces.

Together, the winning photographs paint a picture of nature as something accessible, diverse and deeply connected to everyday university life. Each weekly winner will receiver a £10 voucher from Sustainable UCL!

Wild London Category 

• “Blue tit on blossom tree” by Lucy Stagg (IAs Research Centre Coordinator), taken in Orpington, admiring the way the blue tit seems to love pecking the spring blossoms.

The winner will recieve a £50 voucher from Sustainable UCL.

Connecting people with nature

The Wild UCL Photography Competition supports Sustainable UCL’s wider work to improve biodiversity, wellbeing and climate resilience across UCL’s campuses. By encouraging people to notice and engage with nature, the competition aims to strengthen connections between the UCL community and the natural environment, reinforcing the importance of protecting and enhancing green spaces.

As part of 28 Days of Sustainability, the competition complemented talks, workshops, creative sessions and community activities focused on sustainability in action. It provided an opportunity for reflection and creativity alongside practical action, showing how environmental awareness can be expressed in many different ways.

Sustainable UCL would like to thank everyone who took part, submitted photographs and shared their perspectives on Wild UCL. The quality and thoughtfulness of the entries reflect the passion within the UCL community for nature, biodiversity and a more sustainable future.

View all the winning photographs here!

Find out more about Wild UCL, biodiversity initiatives and upcoming sustainability opportunities on the Sustainable UCL website.