Wildlife and Conservation Stories from Warwickshire and the Midlands

I am documenting the two local rivers closest to my home in Southam through the seasons, focusing on water quality, freshwater life and the pressures these waterways face. As a trained marine and freshwater biologist, I am interested in what the rivers reveal about the wider health of our local ecosystems.

This project includes macroinvertebrates, bankside habitats, flooding, low flows, and the subtle changes that mark each stage of the year. I also follow volunteer groups and conservation work where possible, exploring how people interact with and look after these rivers.

Over time this will build into a long-form visual story of two small but important catchments in the heart of the Midlands.

Much of Warwickshire is made up of farmland, hedgerows and pasture, and this project follows the wildlife that lives in and around these working landscapes. From hares and deer in winter fields to summer bird activity and autumn migration, I am documenting how the countryside changes through the year.

Because I revisit the same routes throughout the seasons, this project shows the rhythms of local farmland in a way that single visits cannot. It also connects directly to my interest in how farming practices influence wildlife, and how landowners, conservation groups and volunteers work together to improve habitats.

The Grand Union Canal and its connected waterways form a continuous corridor for wildlife across the Midlands. This project looks at how birds, insects, mammals and plants use the canal system, and how people interact with these spaces.

I am photographing towpaths, winter maintenance work, emerging spring life and the quieter moments that happen between boats and bridges. There is a strong human element to this project: volunteers, walkers, anglers, boaters and the conservation tasks that help keep these linear habitats healthy.

This project focuses on two of the Midlands’ most important wetland sites, following resident and migratory birds through the changing seasons. Winter brings waterfowl and shifting weather, while spring and summer offer breeding behaviour, juveniles and feeding activity.

My aim is to show not only the birds themselves but also the value of these wetlands for both people and wildlife. These reservoirs and parklands are places where conservation, recreation and nature coexist closely, and that relationship runs through the whole project.

Even in towns and cities, wildlife finds ways to live alongside us. Foxes at dusk, hedgehogs moving through gardens, birds nesting in unusual places and the many species that use parks and green corridors all form part of this ongoing project.

I photograph early mornings, night-time streets and quiet corners of towns like Southam, Leamington and Warwick to show how much wildlife goes unnoticed. This is a project that connects directly with community engagement and education, and helps people see the nature that shares space with them every day.

This project explores how invasive species such as Himalayan balsam, signal crayfish and giant hogweed are reshaping local ecosystems. As a freshwater biologist, I approach this subject from both a scientific and photographic perspective, documenting the ecological impact and the efforts to manage or remove these species.

I follow removal days, habitat management, early signs of growth and the effect these plants and animals have on rivers, canals and farmland. This is an education-driven project aimed at increasing awareness of a topic that affects many parts of the countryside.

Dragonflies and damselflies are among the most striking insects found in our local ponds, canals and wetlands. This project focuses on their life cycle, from emergence through to territorial behaviour, mating and predation.

Using close-up and behaviour-focused photography, I hope to show the complexity and beauty of these species, and what they can tell us about the health of our freshwater habitats. This is a seasonal project, returning each summer as new species appear and established ones re-emerge.

Barn owls and kestrels are iconic birds of the British countryside, yet their lives are closely tied to the availability of good farmland habitats. This project follows these raptors across the seasons, including hunting behaviour, habitat use, nest boxes and the work of local conservation groups and landowners.

Because these species require careful, ethical fieldwork, this is a slower project that will build over time. The aim is to document not only the birds themselves but also the wider landscape and the people working to support them.