A CHEEKY fox spying on her while she was gardening is among the inspiring images captured from one Swindon photographer’s own back garden and beyond that have been submitted for this year’s VisitWiltshire photographic competition.

Sixty-seven-year-old Gail Collins has lived in Park South since 1962, and now lives just two doors down from the house she grew up in.

“I have always been interested in birds and nature of all kinds, and I love walking for miles in the countryside,” she said. “I never go out without my camera now, and I love photography.”

She is among the first photographers across the county to have entered this year’s VisitWiltshire photographic competition, in the hope of being in with a chance of winning a new camera from Castle Cameras in Salisbury.

Each month photographers can submit up to eight photographs which depict an aspect of the county that inspires then.

Among Gail’s first batch of photographs are images of her own green-fingered work in the garden, including tulips and irises, as well as one brazen visitor to her garage roof, who watched her beadily while she went about her gardening. Luckily her collie dog didn’t spot the cheeky fox.

She also captured an image of a goldfinch eating sunflower hearts from a bird feeder in her garden. “I get so many species of bird in my garden now,” she said. “My garden is chemical and pesticide free and has been for about 30 years.”

A busy afternoon shopping at a garden centre also proved to be an inspiring image for her after she lined her garden bench with her new additions for the flower beds. She was so pleased with the shot she designed a greeting card using the image.

Leaving the garden fence, she has also submitted images of Lechlade on a summer’s day and the garden at Stanton Park. “I think we are so lucky to be able to wander around this lovely place,” she said. “And the bridge at Lechlade is another lovely place to wander with your camera.”

VisitWiltshire is urging snappers to make the most of the fine summer weather and get out and about to capture the most scenic shots they can find.

To be in with a chance of winning, your photos should capture the essence of life in Wiltshire, its people and landscape, and tie in with any of VisitWiltshire's four ‘Timeless’ themes:

• Timeless Wonders: including Stonehenge, Avebury, Salisbury Cathedral, the Kennet & Avon Canal and Wiltshire’s White Horses

• Timeless Places: including market towns, villages and other attractions

• Timeless Pleasures: including shopping, food and drink, festivals and events, arts and entertainment

• Timeless Nature: including big skies, rolling hills, flora and fauna

Entrants can send in up to eight images per calendar month from now until September. To give yourself the best chance of winning you can send in up to eight photographs per calendar month to arrive by midnight on the last day of each month. Only colour, digital photos will be accepted and all photographs must be submitted as jpeg or tiff attachments, minimum resolution 300dpi.

For more details and full terms and conditions visit www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/competitions or email photocompetition@visitwiltshire.co.uk for an entry form.