Celebrating the beauty and diversity of the Beaulieu River through the lens of talented local photographers, the new photo exhibition Beaulieu River: In Focus has been officially opened by Lord Montagu and Mary Montagu-Scott.
Hosted in the picturesque village of Buckler’s Hard, the exhibition showcases more than 20 stunning images from 10 years of the Beaulieu River photo competition – ranging from tranquil sunsets to captivating wildlife, including pictures of the river’s playful resident seals.
Lord Montagu presented 2024 photo competition winner Oliver Crockett, aged 21, with a canvas of his cheeky seal photograph and £200 prize at the launch. Past winners and runners-up were also invited to see their pictures on display.
Guests at the private viewing were treated to a journey through the stunning natural landscape, as the exhibition showed a selection of works which highlighted the unique charm of the Beaulieu River.
Lord Montagu said: “When my sister Mary decided to hold another exhibition, we didn’t have to look far for the cream of what has appeared in our Beaulieu River Tide Times booklet over 10 years.”
Mary Montagu-Scott said: “This is a lovely exhibition which will be free for visitors to see for the whole of the summer. Entries for the 2025 photo competition are also now open, so get your cameras out and snap away on the Beaulieu River to take your favourite shots.”
The Beaulieu River: In Focus exhibition is free to enter and will remain open to visitors until November 2025.
Exhibition visitors can also choose their favourite photograph to enter in the People’s Award until September 1st, for a chance to win an annual parking pass to Buckler’s Hard, plus a family ticket to the River Cruise and Buckler’s Hard Museum.
Visitors can explore Buckler’s Hard for free and discover the historic village, which recently featured in the BBC Two programme Villages by the Sea with archaeologist Ben Robinson.
A special offer code in the exhibition gives 20% off entry to Buckler’s Hard Museum, which provides insights into the village’s famous shipbuilding history, the role it played in WWII and tells stories of its residents through an exhibition on village life. Open daily 10 – 4pm, the museum admission fee supports the preservation of the village.
A parking charge applies for those arriving at Buckler’s Hard by car. For more information, please visit https://bucklershard.co.uk/ or call 01590 616203.
To enter the 2025 Beaulieu River photo competition or for more details see https://www.beaulieuriver.co.uk/photo-competition/.
