In 2009 the International Garden Photographer of the Year folks want to place the emphasis not only on the great cash prizes they have on offer but ways in which you can use your competition entry to improve your photography. In addition to the cash and equipment prizes - as last year the top prize was £5000 - they are offering the chance to have a personal critique of your entry.

Everybody who enters the competition will be eligible for a FREE ENTRY (value £13 for adults) to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, UK, on a specified date in May or June 2009 (exact date to be announced soon). On this day IGPOTY judges will be on hand at the exhibition site to answer your questions and to give you feedback on your entries - you will need to bring prints or your photos on your camera. Please note this offer will only be valid on the date they specify.

They understand that not everyone will be able to take up this offer. Therefore the IGPOTY team will provide personal feedback by email to up to 200 entrants who are unable to attend the day at Kew Gardens. The 200 entrants will be chosen by the IGPOTY team.

In addition, Andrew Lawson and Clive Nichols will invite up to 50 entrants - who are not winners, finalists or commended - to a free workshop day in England where they will get expert hands-on tuition from two of the world’s top professional garden photographers. Andrew and Clive will choose those entrants whose photographs capture their interest because they are promising, interesting or quirky. This will take place in the summer of 2009.

Anyone from the 50 invited by Andrew and Clive who cannot attend the workshop can choose instead to receive a copy of the IGPOTY book ‘Better Plant and Garden Photography’ to be published Sept 2009.

For a full listing of prizes go to http://www.igpoty.com/Prizes.asp?parent=competition

Please enter now and make the most of this great opportunity - Deadline January 31st 2009. Visit the site to learn more about the competition, how to enter, how to prepare your images for the competition, and the types of entry they have.