My latest local project - Shortlisted for Earth Photo 2025 prize - Exhibition open in June at the Royal Geographical Society
I have only had time to enter one competition so far this year so was really thrilled to get into Earth Photo.
Last time I was shortlisted for this prize was 2020 and Covid put a big dampener on it, the exhibition was never hung and the award ceremony was cancelled, so it’s doubly special to have got in again.
This project is titled ‘Beaver Britannia’ is the story of landscape and biodiversity change local to me on a local re-wilding site in Somerset. Beavers were released here about 8 years ago and their impact is starting to show. This is a very long term project started last year, though I have known this land for over 10 years.
I will use the drone to record the changes in the water table and ground imagery to study the biodiversity in the location. Not forgetting - the sound-scapes I’m capturing and I was very excited to hear the return of the Cuckoo recently after decades of its absence.
I hope you get to see the exhibition it’s packed with amazing imagery and stories.
Accompanying text:
The spread of Eurasian Beavers after a 400-year hiatus in the UK is taking hold. With a small number of officially sanctioned, managed, licenced beavers, alongside fairly widespread unofficially released ones. Beavers are dam-makers, reshaping and re/wetting the landscape they reside. They feed on the leaves and bark of trees, it’s expected they will help increase the UK’s bio-diversity, re-establish wetlands, and help with flood-water management.
This is rewilded land outside of Frome in Somerset. Beavers have been established here for around 8 years, and have been busy slowing down the water, creating wetland from young woodland and meadow, likely preventing flooding downstream.
Wetlands support 40% of the worlds plant and animal species, including fish. The UK has lost most of its wetlands, and its rivers are mostly in poor health. Slowing the water down helps the water to self-clean which will benefit the fish and river species in recovery.