Photographers are invited to get creative and capture the power of trees as the annual Teagasc/Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) forest photo competition opens for entries.

The theme this year is ‘Letting Trees Work for Us’.

Budding photographers have until November 20 to submit their work.

The competition invites aspiring photographers of all ages to capture the many ways trees and forests benefit our landscapes, farms, water and biodiversity.

Teagasc expressed delight with the response to the competition to date, with a range of entries across the three competition themes in both the junior and senior categories.

The current favourable autumn weather provides an ideal opportunity to get into the forest and capture images for submission before the entry deadline, according to Tom Houlihan of the Teagasc forestry development department.

The competition will take participants to settings where trees allow all to enjoy nature, promoting wellness, health and relaxation.

"The right trees, established in the right places, enhance the landscape, improve biodiversity, provide shelter, provide key timber resources and generate important additional income," Houlihan said.

The photo competition focuses on three themes and participants can submit one image for each theme.

The first theme is 'Trees for water.' Images that capture and reflect the beauty of trees and water in combination are sought. "Not only is this a beautiful match, but the right trees in the right places can also have a tremendous practical effect on improving aquatic habitats," said Houlihan.

"Trees have the ability to filter run-off from fields, stabilise riverbanks, regulate temperature, provide aquatic food sources and enhance diversity of such environments," he said.

The second theme 'Trees and forests on the farm' can apply to images of all aspects of trees on the farm.

"It can look at how forests and trees can complement other farming activities and enhance the overall landscape, how trees provide shelter from wind and sun for farm animals and crops, and how overall farm sustainability is enhanced by suitably planted trees," said Houlihan.

"The farm landscape can be transformed into an aesthetic pleasure in the presence of trees."

'Trees and biodiversity' is the third theme.

It invites participants to capture images of the wealth of animal and plant life in and around forests.

"Forests provide an essential home to a diversity of photogenic species," said Houlihan.

The competition is open to adult and junior photographers (aged 18 and under) who are residents of the Republic of Ireland. Professional photographers are not eligible. Landscape orientation is strongly preferred.

Participants are asked to familiarise themselves with the competition terms and conditions as well as the entry requirements in advance of photograph submission.

Prizes, sponsored by DAFM, will be awarded for the winner in each theme and in two age categories, adult, and junior.

The prizes are €300 for each theme winner in the adult category and €150 for each theme winner in the junior category.

A further prize of €300 (adult category) and €150 (junior category) will be awarded to the overall winners in the grand finale.