WILDLIFE in Alton can be enjoyed throughout the year by buying Alton Town Council’s Go Wild! In Alton 2022 calendar.

The council asked residents if they would like to share their photographs showing off the diverse wildlife in Alton and its surrounding villages.

A photography exhibition to accompany the calendar will be held at Alton’s Allen Gallery, starting with a meet the photographers morning on December 11 from 10.30am-midday and continuing until January 9.

An impressive variety of entries was submitted, including a snail, a hawk, a butterfly and a kingfisher.

A town council spokesperson said: “The standard of the submissions was very high, making it incredibly difficult to choose the images to be featured in the calendar.

“There will be an additional selection of ‘highly commended’ photographs displayed in the exhibition which are not featured in the calendars.

“We just wish it had been possible to include all the wonderful images and would like to thank everyone for taking the time to share their photographic encounters with Alton’s wildlife.”

The theme Go Wild! In Alton was chosen to mark the 25th anniversary of the opening of HART Wildlife Rescue, and profits from the sale of calendars are being donated to the Medstead charity.

Peter Mart of HART Wildlife Rescue said: “We are the only wildlife hospital in Hampshire. Our mission is to relieve the suffering of disabled, wounded, sick or homeless wildlife and this year it will have treated nearly 4,000 patients.

“The year 2021 is the charity’s 25th anniversary, which was celebrated at the beginning of the year by the announcement that Chris Packham had agreed to become a patron of the charity.”

Calendars are available from the Allen Gallery, the Curtis Museum, the Alton Creative Emporium in Market Square and Alton Town Council. Wall versions cost £9 and desktop ones are £5. All profits will be given to HART Wildlife Rescue.

The European Regional Development Fund’s Welcome Back Fund helped fund the calendars and framed photographs for the exhibition, meaning more of the money raised from calendar sales can be used to support HART Wildlife Rescue.