When I moved to Oxfordshire in 1999, I became a bird enthusiast and over the years learned about many different bird species including recognising their calls. However, I didn't know much else about the natural world. The 2020 pandemic and subsequent lockdown enabled me to study nature in a way I never had time (or the inclination) to do before. Although I enjoyed walking in the countryside and wondering about the plants and creatures I was seeing, I never took the time or trouble to find out more about them.
At the beginning of the first lockdown, my local councillor in Oxfordshire asked people in her district to send her emails about anything that might be of interest to the local neighbourhood. She then passed those emails on to the people who couldn’t get out themselves. I sent her an email with nature photos, and so began an entire year of sending out one email a day about some aspect of nature to a growing group of people from all over the world.
As I photographed species familiar to me, yet new to my understanding, I educated myself and my neighbours about the natural world. This has changed my perspective on life.
At the end of 2020, I began writing articles for the Henley Standard, a newspaper published near my home in the Chilterns, Oxfordshire. I became a member of the Chiltern Society - a wonderful, active organisation and began writing nature articles for them. I have also written articles for another local magazine, Outstanding Chilterns.
I joined two local fungus groups and spend every day out in nature taking photos and trying to learn as much as I can about what is around me. It is so amazing what a different direction my life has taken.
At the beginning of the first lockdown, my local councillor in Oxfordshire asked people in her district to send her emails about anything that might be of interest to the local neighbourhood. She then passed those emails on to the people who couldn’t get out themselves. I sent her an email with nature photos, and so began an entire year of sending out one email a day about some aspect of nature to a growing group of people from all over the world.
As I photographed species familiar to me, yet new to my understanding, I educated myself and my neighbours about the natural world. This has changed my perspective on life.
At the end of 2020, I began writing articles for the Henley Standard, a newspaper published near my home in the Chilterns, Oxfordshire. I became a member of the Chiltern Society - a wonderful, active organisation and began writing nature articles for them. I have also written articles for another local magazine, Outstanding Chilterns.
I joined two local fungus groups and spend every day out in nature taking photos and trying to learn as much as I can about what is around me. It is so amazing what a different direction my life has taken.
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