STUNNING images of wildlife from across The South are among those featured in the highly-acclaimed British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) exhibition at Moors Valley Country Park near Ringwood, which opens in early January.

With 15 categories, including two for young people, the Awards showcase the very best of nature photography chosen from thousands of entries from across the country and raise awareness about biodiversity, British species and their habitats.

This year’s BWPA overall winning shot Hitchhikers was taken underwater off the Island of Hirta in Scotland and features what photographer George Stoyle describes as ‘one of the largest jellyfish I’ve ever encountered’. The amazing folds, frills and kaleidoscopic colours of this giant lion’s mane jellyfish already make the picture a winner, but it is the shoal of shimmering fish finding sanctuary amongst its tangle of stinging tentacles that make this unique picture really stand out.

Nearer to home, highly commended images include two from Paul Colley featuring the amazing underwater colours of Hampshire's freshwater fish on the River Test.

Visitors can also enjoy Jane Morgan’s close-up of a feathery, tentacled fan worm in Weymouth, Dorset whilst Wiltshire images include Mark Bridger’s Roe deer in a field furrow in Salisbury, and 14-year old Harry King’s image of a short eared owl taken at Wroughton’s Barbury Castle.

Wiltshire is also home to category winner Nick Upton, whose images detailing the monitoring and tracking of harvest mice won the documentary series award.

Moors Valley is the only location south of London to host the BWPA national touring exhibition which this year features over 100 striking images including grey seals, golden eagles, weasels and water voles.

The exhibition runs from January 14 to February 26. For details, visit moors-valley.co.uk or call 01425 470721.

The 2017 British Wildlife Photography Awards opens for entries in early February. Details can be found at www.bwpawards.org