THERE IS still time to compete in a photograph competition to celebrate 60 years of the Isle of May as a national nature reserve.

Organised by the Scottish Natural Heritage, which owns and manages the island, the competition's closing date is October 1, and is open to amateur photographers in the age categories of 8 to 11, 12 to 15 and 16 and over.

Judging the competition will be SNH's photographer, Lorne Gill, and she will be looking for photographs of a good quality which capture the atmosphere and wildlife of the island.

Ms Gill said: “I'm delighted to be involved with the Isle of May NNR 60th anniversary nature photography competition.

"With so many nature photographers visiting the island over the summer, there's bound to be some amazing entries. I'll be looking for original but simple, uncluttered, images that portray the day-to-day drama of nature on the Isle of May National Nature Reserve.”

There will be prizewinners in each category, from which an overall winner will be chosen.

The overall winner’s prize will be a two-day stay on the island in summer 2017. This will include some dedicated time with Ms Gill, and the nature reserve’s manager, David Steel.

Two other prize winners will each receive a VIP day trip to the island.

All the winning photos will be displayed at an exhibition at SNH’s Battleby Conference Centre in the autumn, and will be used in promotional items for the NNR, such as postcards and posters.

The photo must have been taken on the Isle of May and be submitted in jpeg format.

For a copy of the rules, please send an email to islemayphoto@snh.gov.uk, or download a copy from the Isle of May pages on the NNR website at www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/

It’s free to visit the nature reserve, but you must take a boat trip to reach the island. Sailings are on the privately-run May Princess or Osprey of Anstruther from the Anstruther Harbour or through the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick.