CONKER NATURE MAGAZINE | AUTUMN | SEPTEMBER 2022 | VOL XVI ISSUE I

AUTUMN - UK| SEPTEMBER 2022 | VOL XIV ISSUE I

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR: 2022

Arrival of Autumn

THE WINNERS OF BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2022 ARE ANNOUNCED

AUTUMNAL WONDERS OF NATURE

EMILY HUNT'S

NATURE: THE NEXT GENERATION HOW WILDLIFE EDUCATION IS REFORMING

BEHIND THE COVER

Red Grouse In The Heather WWW.CONKERNATURE.COM

WILDLIFE

MAGAZINE

Inside Cover: 'The Stunning Landscapes Of The Outer Hebrides, Scotland' Photographer: Scott Duffield Instagram: @scott.duffield.photography

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lucy Morris Instagram @lucymorriswild Email: lucyjane@conkernature.com

Sally Marie Angela Mitchell Zoe Richards Heather Wilkins Darren Wynne Jaquelyn Rodgers Eric Jones Anna Clarke Laszlo Balogh Amelia Bazzone Jade Cornish

Executive Editor Editor Junior Editor Advertising Director Photography Director Deputy Photo Editor Assistant Photo Editor Proofreader Contributor Logo Illustrator Digital Editor Digital Editor

EDITORIAL OFFICE Wildlife photography, art, and written articles are welcomed, once images are submitted they become the property of Conker Nature Magazine; which will be used to promote the magazine if needed, not for any other purpose.

Please send images to submissions@conkernature.com Conker Nature Magazine is published

by Morris Media Publishing Group.

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www.conkernature.com Email: info@conkernature.com Front Cover: 'Red Grouse in Heather' Photographer: Diana Schmies Instagram: @ds.wildlifephotography

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07 LETTER FROM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THIS MONTH, LUCY MORRIS PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE PASSING OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, WHOM PASSED AWAY DURING THE PUBLICATION'S RELEASE.

08 - 11 BEHIND THE COVER WITH DIANA SCHMIES THE SECOND TIME RETURN OF THE NEWEST MAGAZINE FEATURE BEHIND THE COVER, BRINGS YOU THE STORY OF THE FEATURED FRONT COVER.

12 - 19

THE STUNNING LANDSCAPES OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES BRAND AMBASSDOR, SCOTT DUFFIELD, THE INSIDE COVER FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER, DOCUMENTS THE LANDSCAPES OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES.

20 - 35 BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2022: THE WINNERS THIS MONTH'S TOP STORY IS UNVEILING THE WINNERS OF THE BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2022 AWARDS.

37 - 44 ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN

45 - 52 THE BEAUTY OF WILDLIFE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER, MATTHEW RYANS SNAPS OUR WONDERFUL BRITISH WILDLIFE ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.

PHOTOGRAPHER: JESSICA PERRY

BRAND AMBASSADOR, DAN KNIGHT, SHARES HIS PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN THIS SEASON.

53 - 57 AUTUMN MORNING FOXES WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER AND BRAND AMBASSADOR, SCOTT DUFFIELD, BRINGS THE WONDER OF AUTUMN MORNING WITH BRITISH FOXES.

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58 - 71 WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW THIS MONTH WE ARE JOINED BY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER, WILL HALL, AS HE REFLECTS ON HIS CAREER THAT HAS LED TO TODAY.

72 - 78 AUTUMN AFTERNOONS IN THE WOODLAND MEADOW WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER SCOTT DUFFIELD DOCUMENTS THE CHANGING OF SEASONS IN THE WOODLAND MEADOWS OF BRITAIN.

79 - 82

AUTUMNAL WATERFALLS DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF WATERFALLS IN THE AUTUMN SEASON WITH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER, SCOTT DUFFIELD.

84 - 86 NATURE: THE NEXT GENERATION YOUNG WILDLIFE WRITER, EMIILY HUNT REPORTS ON THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE NATURAL WORLD WITH OUR YOUNGEST GENERATION, AND HOW THE DIFFERENCE OF EDUCATION MAY HAVE AN IMPACT YET TO COME.

FREEDOM FOR THE FOX WILDLIFE WRITER AND POET, EMILY TAYLOR SHARES AN AUTUMNAL FOX POEM, SIGNALLING THE START OF AUTUMN HAS JUST BEGUN.

90 - 92

PHOTOGRAPHER: JACK HAGUE

88 - 89

WINCHESTER'S WONDERFUL WILDLIFE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER, JAMES CAMPION DOCUMENTS THE CITY OF WINCHESTER'S WONDERFUL AVIAN WILDLIFE.

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94 - 98 AUTUMNAL WONDERS WILDLIFE WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER, EMILY TAYLOR RETURNS THIS MONTH TO SHARE THE CHANGING OF THE SUMMER TO AUTUMN SEASON WITH AUTUMNAL WONDERS

100 - 104 A YEAR THROUGH THE LENS WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER, AND BRAND AMBASSADOR, EDDY GEALE, DOCUMENTS THE WILDLIFE YEAR THROUGH THE EYES OF HIS LENS.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: BRIAN CHARD

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EDITOR'S LETTER Her Majesty The Queen (1926 - 2022)

The Queen has carried a passion for conservation and the natural world since the start. Her love for nature has been passed down to her children and now her grandchildren. There is no greater legacy. ⁠ God bless you, Ma'am. Rest in peace, and rise in glory. Thank you for a lifetime of service to our country. ⁠ ⁠ Long Live The King.

Lucy Morris Conker Nature Editor-in-chief

LJM

@ ROYAL COMMUNICATIONS / THE ROYAL FAMILY

The Conker Nature Magazine Team are deeply saddened to hear the news that Her Majesty The Queen has passed away. ⁠We pay this month's Editor's Letter as a tribute to her memory. ⁠ Our thoughts are very much with the Royal Family and their loved ones. The Queen has been an inspirational figurehead throughout the years of her reign. ⁠

We will be closed on the day of Her Majesty's State Funeral and the Coronation of the His Majesty The King.

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WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

BEHIND THE COVER Of The

Red Grouse In The Heather Photographer: Diana Schmies IG: @ds.wildlifephotography

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BEHIND THE COVER

WITH DIANA SCHMIES

Hello Diana, congratulations on making the front cover of this month’s UK edition and thank you for taking the time to answer some of our questions to you.

Please tell our readers a little about you and your photography.

I’m passionate about wildlife and the environment and I'm involved in campaigning to preserve biodiversity and prevent climate change. I can’t do wildlife photography only to show the beauty of the natural world without seeing the threats it is facing.

For example, photographing this Red grouse just a few days before the shooting season started this year, and knowing it’d probably be shot in the next few weeks was simply heartbreaking.

I’m also trying to document the trouble that nature is in because of human interference – whether that’s plastic pollution, animals trapped in human waste or a nesting site destroyed by flooding driven by global warming.

My interest in conservation extends to how I take photos – it’s really important to me to not interfere with nature in any way in order to get the perfect photo. For example, I’d never use a flash to photograph nocturnal creatures, I don’t use bait or break branches off a tree to get a better view.

What is featured on the front cover?

It’s a Red grouse in the heather in the Peak District. These birds are endemic to the British Isles and Ireland and can only be found on open moorland. Without heather the grouse couldn't survive as the plant provides 90% of their diet, it’s their breeding ground and shelter from the elements and predators.

Red grouse belong to the pheasant and partridge family (Phasianidae) but they’re widely considered a “game bird”. There’s no such thing as a game bird from an ecological point of view. Otherwise, it'd mean that being shot for sport or food was the birds' natural purpose.

“Game” is a culturally shaped term, like “vermin” or “weed”. It’s used to classify species according to specific human interests rather than biological relations. It helps justify that some species may be valued or treated differently than others, which I simply call a form of species-ism – that's species discrimination.

Being featured on the front page of a wildlife magazine rightly gives this “game bird” the same appreciation that is normally reserved for socalled "star species" like Kingfishers, Owls, or Eagles.

What photography equipment was used to capture this image?

I used a Nikon, namely the D500, paired with the 200-500mm f5.6 lens.

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What is the story behind the cover?

Behind The Cover

When I first came to the UK, I was madly curious to see this native bird in its habitat. I went on a trip to the Peak District and promptly bumped into a male grouse, who willingly posed for me beautifully. Later I learned it's really not that easy to get a grouse in front of the camera, especially if you have particular images in mind!

So this year, I researched both online and on-site where to find the best places. I wanted to photograph them when the heather is in full bloom but needed to photograph them before the start of the shooting season (early August to early December) so that I’d find them in good numbers and above all not stressed.

When I arrived at my chosen location before sunrise, their extraordinary, distinctive calls could already be heard, contrasting with the fog that was gathering silently over the valleys. Then the sky became overcast giving a soft, even light, and eventually, I got the shot I’d hoped for.

It was an amazing encounter, one of those rare, rewarding encounters, and THE reason I do wildlife photography: to get close to wildlife.

Actually, in this case, it was the other way round!

After viewing me from afar the grouse got closer and closer. He got so close that I wasn't able to continue my photography with my long lens, so I had the pleasure of just watching him. Even though the little one was really curious about me, he also made me understand that he would only tolerate me to a limited extent. I respected his wishes and retreated to leave him in his home.

Many people believe that the Red grouse call sounds like Go back! Go back! I wish that those who shoot with guns not cameras would also understand this – and respect all life.

What is your favourite feature of this front cover image?

What I like best is the grouse completely surrounded by the softly blurred heather allowing the bird to stand out visually. The harmonious colours give the picture a settled, peaceful feeling, representing the idea of a perfectly balanced nature. Of course, that impression is only temporarily true. The picture doesn't tell the full story - that grouse moors are intensively managed at the expense of the environment.

To improve heather growth the land is burned and drained, which results in the loss of biodiversity, bad quality of water and soil, erosion, and flooding. And crucially, lots of CO2 is released in the process. To keep the numbers of Red grouse artificially high, their potential predators are the unseen victims of this blood sport: Crows, Owls, Buzzards, Peregrines, Red Kites, Kestrels, Goshawks, Hen Harriers, Sea Eagles, Golden Eagle, Foxes, Stoats, Dogs, and even Mountain Hares are legally and illegally killed to maximise profit, not nature. Last but not least, between mid-August and mid-December more than half a million Red grouse are shot for what a few call sport.

What is next for Diana Schmies?

The UK has lost half of its biodiversity since the Industrial revolution [1], The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world [2], and nearly a third of our birds are facing the risk of extinction. [3] With that, I’ll be out with my camera photographing more of our vanishing wildlife, trying to help raise awareness of our vulnerable natural world. I have some conservation photography projects in mind.

But I also plan to continue working with a pair of Swans and Greatcrested grebes I’ve got to know over the last few years. I’ll never get tired of photographing them again and again as I always discover something new or complementary to an existing series.

[1] https://earth.org/uk-biodiversity-loss/ [2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/58863097 [3] https://jncc.gov.uk/news/bocc5/

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THE

Stunning landscapes of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland Photographer: Scott Duffield IG: @scott.duffield.photography

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Inside Cover Feature

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Published by William Collins, the 2022 Bird Photographer of the Year competition features a wealth of incredible images, attracting the world’s best bird photography, now celebrated in this stunning 256 page book. Featuring well over 200 of the best images, the coffee-table sized book is a lavish production that pays homage to the exceptionally high standard of entries. The book is an important element to the competition as it helps celebrate and promote the works of the contributing photographers. © Brad James / Bird Photographer of the Year

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Bird Photographer of the Year 2022:

Competition Winners Announced

The Bird Photographer of the Year 2022 winners have been unveiled.

An image of a rock ptarmigan in winter plumage taking flight above the snow-covered mountains of Tysfjord, Norway, takes the grand prize in the world’s largest bird photography competition.

Written By Lucy Morris “Birds are an incredibly diverse group of animals, and we’ve seen stunning images of everything from mallard ducks to harpy eagles this year,” says Will Nicholls, wildlife cameraman and Director at Bird Photographer of the Year. “We celebrate birds and conservation through images, and it is always a pleasure for everyone on the judging panel to see the work of such talented photographers.”

- Will Nicholls, Director of Bird Photographer of the Year.

Bird Photographer of the Year has conservation at its heart. This year, the competition donated more than £5,000 to partner charity Birds on the Brink, which provides vital funding to grass-roots bird conservation projects around the world. Visit them at www.birdsonthebrink.co.uk Photographers competed in 8 different categories in the adult competition: Best Portrait, Birds in the Environment, Attention to Detail, Bird Behaviour, Birds in Flight, Black and White, Urban Birds, and Creative Imagery. There was also a Conservation Award, Portfolio Award, and Video Award.

Photographers competed in 8 different categories in the adult competition: Best Portrait, Birds in the Environment, Attention to Detail, Bird Behaviour, Birds in Flight, Black and White, Urban Birds, and Creative Imagery. There was also a Conservation Award, Portfolio Award, and Video Award.

Photographers competed in 8 different categories in the adult competition: Best Portrait, Birds in the Environment, Attention to Detail, Bird Behaviour, Birds in Flight, Black and White, Urban Birds, and Creative Imagery. There was also a Conservation Award, Portfolio Award, and Video Award.

More than 20,000 images were entered into the Bird Photographer of the Year 2022 competition. Competing for the £5,000 cash prize and prestigious title, photographers submitted images from 115 different countries this year.

“Once again our talented photographers have cast a light on the incredible diversity of bird life that we share our planet with,” says Will Nicholls, Director of Bird Photographer of the Year. “But it is also a stark reminder of what we stand to lose if we don’t continue to look after the natural world and fight for its protection from the many threats that exist today.”

- Will Nicholls, Director of Bird Photographer of the Year.

All awarded images are published by William Collins in a hard-back coffee-table book, which is now available online at birdpoty.com. Foreword by naturalist and TV explorer Steve Published by William Collins, the 2022 Bird Photographer of the Year Backshall. (HB, £30, published 15th September). competition features a wealth of incredible images, attracting the world’s best bird photography, now celebrated in this stunning 256 page The 2023 competition is now open for entries at birdpoty.com, and invites photographers of book. Featuring well over 200 of the best images, the coffee-table sized all experience levels to submit their best bird photos. book is a lavish production that pays homage to the exceptionally high standard of entries. The book is an important element to the categories can be seen at birdpoty.com/categories •Competition competition as it helps celebrate and promote the•Competition works of the prizes can be seen at birdpoty.com/prizes contributing photographers.

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Bronze BEADS OF DIAMONDS Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer.)

Cariboo region, British Columbia, Canada.

Sue Dougherty, United States of America.

Category: Attention to Detail.

I spent some time in the Cariboo region of British Columbia photographing a very accommodating family of Common Loons (or Great Northern Divers as they are known in Europe).

Using a boat with low sides and an electric motor, I was able to observe and photograph the birds without disrupting or affecting their behaviour. As I floated in silence, I watched the parent divers feed leeches and tiny fish to their chick – just days old – and they were unconcerned by my presence. In fact, the adults actually approached the boat and made repeated dives under and around it. I was able to capture the moment this one surfaced with perfect hydrodynamic lines of water droplets adorning its head from beak to neck. They looked like glimmering beads of diamonds framing its ruby-red eye. Then, when I looked closely, I noted that the reflection in its eye was a ruby mirror of the trees on the lake shoreline.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II with Canon 500mm f/4 II lens and 1.4Å~ teleconverter. Focal length 700mm; 1/640 second; f/6.3; ISO 1,000

© Sue Dougherty / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @offleashphotography

THE DOTING COUPLE Purple-crested Turaco (Gallirex porphyreolophus.)

Lower Mpushini, near Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Richard Flack, South Africa.

Category: Bird Portrait.

I have seen Purple-crested Turacos on hundreds of occasions and have always tried to take special photographs of them. They are such iconic African birds and are sought-after subjects.

Unfortunately, they are shy characters and tend to avoid camera lenses. However, while birding in a small conservancy in the Lower Mpushini area near Pietermaritzburg my luck with them changed completely.

Seemingly out of nowhere, this exquisite pair flew out from thick cover and landed a few metres in front of me while I was searching for African Emerald Cuckoos (Chrysococcyx cupreus) in the canopy. The turaco pair seemed much more interested in each other than in me, which allowed for some unbelievable photographic moments. All in all, it was a dream encounter and I felt privileged to share such an intimate moment with them.

Canon R5 with Canon 600mm f/4 III lens. Focal length 600mm; 1/2,500 second; f/6.3; ISO 2,000 ©Richard Flack / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @theflacksphotography

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Winners FREE AS A BIRD European Shag Gulosus aristotelis.

Asturias, Spain.

Mario Suarez Porras, Spain.

Category: Birds in the Environment.

This image shows a European Shag as it flies over a huge wave of about 8m high off the west coast of Asturias in northern Spain. It made me reflect on how lucky the bird was to be free and able to fly with strength and determination in the most difficult conditions.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with Canon 100–400mm f/4.5– 5.6 II lens. Focal length 164mm; 1/4,000 second; f/8; ISO 1,250 ©Mario Suarez Porras / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @mariosuarezporras

SCHALOW’S TURACO Schalow’s Turaco Tauraco schalowi.

Maasai Mara, Kenya.

Aaron Baggenstos, United States of America.

Category: Birds in Flight.

In more than a decade of wildlife photography I’ve never seen a decent photo of a Schalow’s Turaco in flight. Google it for yourself if you don’t believe me.

These stunningly dressed birds spend most of their time high in the dark jungle canopy and are extremely fast in flight – I think of them as ‘bullet’ birds. This combination makes them almost impossible to photograph in flight.

You can imagine my excitement when I found out a few birds were flying across the river in front of my safari tent each morning at eye level! My heart pounded as I stood on the bank waiting patiently as they called out from the tree tops. I just knew this was the opportunity of a lifetime.

The river setting was a unique window of opportunity that provided just a split second to acquire focus.

A green bird on a green background is a nightmare for an autofocus system, but I knew my new camera’s tracking system, and a decade of photographing birds in flight gave me a fighting chance. On my last morning in camp the diffused overcast light was just beautiful. This is it, I thought. The colour of the birds’ vibrant red wings popped out from the tree tops at a distance.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I saw this individual emerging from the canopy like a bullet and coming diagonally straight towards me. I panned, my thumb glued to the back button as the camera tried to grab initial focus. Nothing… then bam! I couldn’t believe it. I acquired focus just before the bird flew out the edge of the frame. But was it sharp? Reviewing the image on the back of the camera, my face lit up. This image captured the moment, and what a remarkably beautiful avian creature it was. It was a true gem to witness and I am thrilled to share the photographic outcome with the rest of the world.

Canon R5 with Canon 24–105mm f/4 lens. Focal length 24mm; 1/3,200 second; f/5; ISO 500 ©Aaron Baggenstos / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @aaronbaggenstos

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Bronze WINTER SWANS Mute Swan Cygnus olor.

Silesia, Poland.

Tomasz Sczansny, Poland.

Category: Black and White.

I like looking at the world from an alternative perspective and, when I do, common species and familiar landscapes sometimes take on an otherworldly appearance and become extremely interesting. I encounter Mute Swans regularly on this lake, but this was the first time I had photographed them using a drone. I took this image not far from my home, while the lake was frozen.

The ice paints the landscape with beautiful shapes and the swans add context, the whole scene working particularly well in black and white. Such a situation was probably a one-off and will never be repeated.

DJI Phantom 4. Focal length 3.6mm; 1/100 second; f/2.8; ISO 183. ©Tomasz Sczansny / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @tomeksczansny

WAXWING SILHOUETTE Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Simon d’Entremont, Canada.

Category: Bird Behaviour.

This was an amazing experience for me. A flock of more than 100 Bohemian Waxwings descended onto these berry bushes, devouring them right in front of me. Not only are they beautiful birds, but the action of them picking berries and often flipping them in the air to eat them is impressive and very photogenic. The challenge is that when they are in the middle of the berry bushes, the photo is just a tangle of branches with the birds hidden inside.

The sweet spot is when the birds are on the edges of the bushes, where the background can be cleaner. In this photo, the birds were also in the shade and the background was in the sun, my favourite effect. I underexposed the shot to create this silhouette effect.

Canon R5 with Canon 500mm f/4 II lens. Focal length 500mm; 1/1,600 second; f/4.5; ISO 160.

SANDHILL CRANE FLIGHT TEAM AIR SHOW Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis. San Francisco, California, United States of America.

Wei Lian, United States of America.

Category: Creative Imagery.

Last October, I went to San Francisco in California to watch the spectacle of the annual US Navy Blue Angels military air show. The performance was wonderful, and I took a lot of photos. Inspired by the aerobatic skills of the Blue Angels, I decided to incorporate a formation of Sandhill Cranes into the scene, and created this image using several pictures that I blended and combined.

Nikon D850 with Nikon 80–400mm f/4.5–5.6 lens. Focal length 400mm; 1/3,200 second; f/9; ISO 720. Composite. ©Wei Lian / Bird Photographer of the Year

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©Simon d’Entremont / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @simon.dentremont

Winners THE OWLET AND THE DUMP Barred Owl Strix varia.

Hillsboro, Oregon, United States of America.

Kerry Wu, United States of America.

Category: Urban Birds.

Bottles, glass, plastic, jugs, car tyres, derelict furniture. These discarded items are not what we usually think of as typical Barred Owl habitat. Nevertheless, this was exactly what one family was obliged to tolerate. The location is not a formal garbage dump as such, but rather a creek that runs through an urban park. Above the ravine is a native forest that this owlet, its family and many other wild animals call home. The owlets bathe and play around the creek, which unfortunately is where rubbish is dumped and accumulates. While I was watching the scene, one of the owlets even picked up a large rusty screw and ‘played’ with it as if it were a twig. At one point it looked right at me as if to say, ‘What have you done to my home?’ The ravine is, but shouldn’t be, a dumping ground and this scene broke my heart.

Nature is not a landfill site. We can do better. We must do better. ©Kerry Wu / Bird Photographer of the Year

Sony A9 II with Sony 200–600mm f/5.6–6.3 G lens. Focal length 559mm; 1/800 second; f/6.3; ISO 2,500.

SUNSET Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus.

Khok Kham, Samut Sakhon, Thailand.

Thamboon Uyyanonvara, Thailand.

Category: 14–17 years.

At the end of the day, this area of saltpans took on a beautiful, bright orange-red colour. I love watching the scene of waders foraging in such glorious light. To take this photograph, I lay prone and motionless on a low ridge as there was nowhere else for me to hide. I lay there hoping that the birds would come into the basin just in front of me. Eventually, my dream came true and the birds finally arrived, right on cue to coincide with the gorgeous sunset light. The sun’s glow contained tints of yellowish, pinkish and orange-red, and this little Kentish Plover was perfectly placed in the middle of its reflection on the saltwater surface. You can also get a sense of how shallow the basin was from the size of the bird in relation to those little wads of mud.

©Thamboon Uyyanonvara / Bird Photographer of the Year

Canon R6 with Canon 300mm f/2.8 II lens. Focal length 300mm; 1/500 second; f/2.8; ISO 100.

HOP, SKIP AND JUMP Plum-headed Parakeet Himalayapsitta cyanocephala.

Hosanagara, Karnataka, India.

Achintya Murthy, India.

Category: 9–13 years.

There is a bird hide in the Western Ghats of India that has been installed specifically for observing and photographing parakeets. On the day I visited the site, there was good light, which was an encouraging sign. Aware of this, I set the camera to a high shutter speed and used an autofocus setting with 72 points of focus. The aim was to get a sharp image of a bird in flight, and I was particularly keen to photograph a Plumheaded Parakeet. One landed on a crowded perch and, expecting it to fly away from the crowd, I tracked its movement and was able to capture this amazing moment.

Canon R6 with Canon 300mm f/2.8 II lens. Focal length 300mm; 1/500 second; f/2.8; ISO 100.

©Achintya Murthy/ Bird Photographer of the Year

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Silver CRAZY Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus.

Stockholm, Sweden.

Isabella Chowra, Sweden.

Category: Attention to Detail.

This seemingly fearless Western Capercaillie was approaching people during lekking time and displaying his beautiful feathers and form. He wasn’t aggressive and seemed calm even while people looked on. As I knew that he resided in a forest near Stockholm, I took my macro lens with me to achieve this tight framing with the background created by his tail feathers. The nictitating membrane was a nice bonus.

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens. Focal length 100mm; 1/500 second; f/2.8; ISO 250 ©Isabella Chowra / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @isabella_chowra_photography

PUFFIN LOVE Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica.

Elliston, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Brad James, Canada.

Category: Best Portrait.

As the morning sun glistens over the surface of the ocean below, a pair of Atlantic Puffins beautifully stationed on a dramatic cliff edge reinforce the intimate bond that exists between them. Because of the intensity and sheer beauty of the colours being reflected off the sea, I decided to expose for the setting rather than the birds to create a silhouette of the puffins as they came together. This image perfectly captures the moment.

Nikon D850 with Nikon 500mm f/4 lens. Focal length 500mm; 1/1,250 second; f/5.6; ISO 64. ©Brad James / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @bradjames_photography

KALEIDOSCOPE Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) and Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus.)

Lake Logipi, Kenya.

Paul Mckenzie, Ireland.

Category: Birds in the Environment.

This image shows a small flock of Lesser and Greater flamingos as they fly over Lake Logipi in northern Kenya. Recent rains had covered the previously empty lake with a shallow depth of water.

This had awakened dormant microscopic algae in the lake bed, which caused the red coloration in the image and mixed with yellow and brown sediment washed into the lake from the Suguta River. High rates of evaporation resulting from searing air temperatures had begun to produce soda salt floes on the lake surface. Huge numbers of flamingos regularly gather on this remote lake to feed on the specialist brine invertebrates here, which themselves feed on the algae. I took this image from a light aircraft with the doors removed on one side.

©Paul Mckenzie/ Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @paulconormckenzie

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Canon R5 with Canon 24–105mm f/4 lens. Focal length 24mm; 1/3,200 second; f/5; ISO 500

Winners STARLING AT NIGHT Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Solihull, West Midlands, United Kingdom.

Mark Williams, United Kingdom.

Category: Birds in Flight.

This image was taken using flash, with the camera in rear curtain synch mode. To attract the Common Starling, I placed some sunflower seeds in a feeder, and as the bird came towards the feeder, I timed the shot to capture its descent. Timing was critical, as was the need to balance the flash with the ambient light so you could see the trail of the starling while the flash ‘froze’ the bird in flight. The coloured gels on the flash heads add to the image, giving it a feeling that the bird is lurking in the shadow of the night.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 lens and flash. Focal length 200mm; 1/15 second; f/16; ISO 200 ©Mark Williams/ Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @markwilliams84

FISHY BUSINESS Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus and Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus.

Lake Kerkini, Greece.

Janine Lee, United Kingdom.

Category: Creative Imagery.

I’m not really sure where the idea for this image came from; I just knew I wanted to create a light hearted picture of birds stealing the fisherman’s catch. The scenery, Dalmatian Pelicans and Greater Flamingos were at beautiful Lake Kerkini in Greece, and the old boat was one I spotted on the Norfolk coastline. I bought fish from my local market and photographed them at home, along with an old lantern from my garden. I used my editing software to bring everything together and balance the light, shadows and colour tones.

Nikon D7200 with Tokina 11–16mm f/2.8 lens. Focal length 16mm; 1/1,000 second; f/2.8; ISO 200. Composite. ©Janine Lee/ Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @janine.lees.artist

SHADOWS Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula. Grazalema, Spain.

Andrés Luis Domínguez Blanco, Spain. Category: 9–13 years.

I enjoyed taking this picture of a Eurasian Blackbird because at that moment the silhouetted outline of the bird and the illuminated background combined in a pleasing and artistic way. A few out-of-focus dewdrops created circles of bokeh that complement the image.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon 500mm f/4 lens and 1.4x teleconverter. Focal length 700mm; 1/2,000 second; f/5.6; ISO 800. ©Andrés Luis Domínguez Blanco/ Bird Photographer of the Year

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Silver GONZO Little Owl Athene noctua.

Harghita county, Transylvania, Romania.

Laszlo Potozky, Romania.

Category: Urban Birds.

This image was taken in Transylvania in Romania, not far from one of my favourite Natura 2000 sites. Only rarely are there days when this highly respected protected area fails to deliver from a bird photography point of view. However, on such days I know I have a fall-back option, namely an abandoned building where Little Owls have nested for more than a decade. Last year, on one of these Plan B days, I arrived at the building following heavy rain and discovered that the Little Owl family had grown: three chicks had hatched a few weeks previously.

To my relief, I was ‘welcomed’ by the whole family, and while four of them were drying their feathers on the roof, one of the chicks was under it, posing in an odd way and with what looked like an air of resignation. To my eyes I could see a resemblance to Gonzo, the famous character from The Muppet Show. ©Laszlo Potozky/ Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @potozky_laszlo

Sony A7R IV with Sony 200–600mm f/5.6–6.3 G lens. Focal length 600mm; 1/60 second; f/6.3; ISO 400

PIED AVOCET CHICK Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) Kinskunság National Park, Hungary.

Tamás Koncz-Bisztricz, Hungary.

Category: 14–17 years.

This photograph was taken in an area I have known for a long time – it is a soda lake called Nagyszéksós-tó, near the town of Mórahalom. Kinskunság National Park introduced Water Buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) at least ten years ago, and the beneficial outcome has been that the birdlife has become very rich and diverse. Until now, I have photographed only adult birds at this location, but I managed to observe and photograph Pied Avocet chicks in early summer. After prolonged observation, I edged my way closer to the birds. The parent birds soon overcame any nervousness and soon got used to my presence; I was an insignificant addition to the nearby Water Buffalos, which dwarfed me. The chicks went about their business a few metres away from me, and fed and preened quite happily. I was lucky enough to be able to photograph this chick backlit, and as a result I took some really special images.

Canon EOS-1D X with Canon 400mm f/4 II lens and 1.4x teleconverter. Focal length 560mm; 1/3,200 second; f/5.6; ISO 100.

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©Tamás Koncz-Bisztricz/ Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @kbtamas

Winners GUILLEMOT SWIMMERS Common Guillemot (Uria aalge) Berwickshire Marine Reserve, Scotland.

Henley Spiers, United Kingdom.

Category: Bird Behaviour.

Common Guillemots (Common Murres) are incredible freedivers – so good, in fact, that studies have shown that of all flying birds, this humble species is the most efficient swimmer. It is bested in the water only by penguins, with which it shares similar stylistic traits. The difference, of course, is that penguins – perhaps descended from the same auk family as Common Guillemots – sacrificed their ability to fly as they adapted to an aquatic existence.

Nikon D850 with Nikon 28–70mm f/3.5–4.5 lens. Focal length 28mm; 1/250 second; f/13; ISO 200

© Henley Spiers/ Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @henleyspiersphoto

THE GUARDIAN OF MORDOR Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo.

Skarðsvík, Iceland.

Paweł Smolik, Poland.

Category: Black and White.

The photo was taken on the black lava beach of Skarðsvík on the west coast of Iceland. While walking there I noticed that, after diving in the ocean, one of the area’s Great Cormorants would sit on a sharp, pointed ridge to dry its wings. The waves, which were unusually large that day, were crashing on nearby rocks, creating a floating mist of water. The sight of this cormorant with its black wings spread, combined with the aura of the place and the colour of the sand and rocks – all shades of black – reminded me of The Lord of the Rings movies.

For this reason, and to emphasise the ominous sense of foreboding, I decided to present the photo in black and white Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with Canon 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 II lens. Focal length 188mm; 1/500 second; f/8; ISO 100

© Paweł Smolik/ Bird Photographer of the Year

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Gold SLEEPING BEAUTY KING PENGUIN (Apetenodytes patagonicus) Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands Andy Pollard, Falkland Islands Category: Attention To Detail While most images of King Penguins seem to be of striking adult birds, there is a definite cuteness to the chicks in their brown ‘teddy bear’ plumage. This chick was asleep at Volunteer Point in the Falkland Islands, and I took the opportunity to capture the details around the beak, eye and ear, the latter seldom seen.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with Canon 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 II lens. Focal length 300mm; 1/160 second; f/8; ISO 500

© Andy Pollard / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @andypollardfalklands

STRUT PERFORMER SAGE GROUSE (Centrocercus urophasianus) Colorado, United States of America.

Ly Dang, United States of America.

Category: Best Portrait.

You know that springtime has arrived on the prairies of the Great Basin of the American West when the Sage Grouse gather at their leks. On these traditional display grounds, males of this Near Threatened species perform their strutting displays in the hope of winning the right to mate. This behaviour is for the benefit of the females, which judge the talent show and select the best genes to pass on to the next generation. I arrived at the lek more than an hour before the birds so I could set up my hide without causing disturbance.

Similarly, with the best interests of the birds at heart, I packed up the hide only when the last bird had left the area. In previous years I had tried to capture this type of portrait shot but had been unsuccessful. However, on this particular morning my luck changed when this bird wandered close to my hide in full display. The photograph was taken without using baiting, calls, lures or unethical practices of any kind.

Sony A1 with Sony 600mm f/4 GM lens and 1.4x teleconverter. Focal length 840mm

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© Ly Dang / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @lysac.dang

Winners DUELLING ON THE LEK SAGE GROUSE (Centrocercus urophasianus) Colorado, United States of America.

Peter Ismert, United States of America.

Category: Bird Behaviour.

During the spring breeding season, male Sage Grouse gather on traditional lekking sites and often engage in short but violent fights. They have an elaborate display designed to attract and impress females and show their superiority; inevitably this leads to rivalry between males and challenges on the lek. I set up my ground hide a safe distance from the lek a couple of days before the photo shoot. I entered my hide in the middle of the night, trying to sleep as best I could before the early-morning hours. At first light I awoke to booming sounds made by the male grouse, and the sight of their unusual display and this particular battle.

No bait or calls were used. © Peter Ismert/ Bird Photographer of the Year

Nikon D850 with Sigma 500mm f/4 lens. Focal length 500mm; 1/2,500 second; f/4; ISO 1,250.

SILO MURAL Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) Yelarbon, Queensland, Australia.

Raoul Slater, Australia.

Category: Birds in Flight.

Large areas of Australia are flat, dry and given over to wheat farming. Towns can consist of as little as a truck stop and a collection of grain silos. In some locations, these silos have become popular palettes for enormous murals, drawing tourists into otherwise desolate areas. I passed through Yelarbon and stopped for two hours to photograph the Galahs that are attracted to spilt grain. The results were so pleasing and surreal that I made the seven-hour trip on a subsequent weekend to have another go, only to find that a mouse plague had moved in and the silos were being fumigated – no Galahs. (Mural: Brightsiders.)

© Raoul Slater / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @raoulslater

Canon R5 with Canon 300mm f/2.8 lens. Focal length 300mm; 1/8,000 second; f/3.5; ISO 1,600

OVER THE CITY Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus.)

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Ammar Alsayed Ahmed, United Arab Emirates.

Category: Urban Birds.

This image was taken from the rooftop of one of the towering skyscraper buildings that dominate the skyline of Abu Dhabi. It shows a line of Greater Flamingos flying on a morning when fog covered the city and the only signs of the urban landscape were the tops of the buildings emerging from the blanket of mist. At the time it seemed a bit like a fantasy, a fleeting moment made surreal as the birds unexpectedly flew past. Fortunately, I was prepared for action and my zoom lens allowed me to frame the birds and capture the moment.

Nikon Z 6 II with Nikon 70–200mm f/2.8 lens. Focal length 71mm; 1/500 second; f/7.1; ISO 100

© Ammar Alsayed Ahmed / Bird Photographer of the Year

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Gold VAN GOGH’S STORKS White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Ukraine.

Petro Katerynych, Ukraine.

Category: Creative Imagery.

© Raoul Slater / Bird Photographer of the Year

In Ukrainian mythology White Storks symbolise faithfulness and strength of spirit. It is hard to imagine a Ukrainian village without a stork’s nest. Everywhere, from Polesia to Slobozhanshchyna, White Storks are seen as a symbol of love for their motherland. When spring arrives and storks return home, Ukrainians young and old go out into the streets, greet the birds’ arrival and sing traditional songs called Vesnyanki in celebration.

Ukrainians cherish spring, which brings prosperity and hope, and we feel that happiness will undoubtedly bless any house where a stork settles and decides to nest. Storks also set a good example and serve to remind Ukrainians how important it is to love our homeland. They fly thousands of kilometres to warmer lands when there is a bitter winter. But they always come back, overcoming all the hardships that beset them on their journey.

We believe that love for their native land gives the storks the strength to survive and return home. Ukrainians don’t traditionally give birds and animals human names. However, an exception is made with White Storks, which are addressed as if they were people. My fellow Ukrainians are facing a similarly challenging task right now – once again they must defend their native nests, while some are forced to rush like storks in the direction of the sun. Many of us will fall, but I hope that spring is ahead of us. I believe that most of us will live to see the return of White Storks circling overhead in the peaceful skies of a free Ukraine. Then we will all rally together, and sing Vesnyanki once more.

Nikon D5100 with Nikon 18–105mm f/3.5–5.6 lens. Focal length 105mm; 1/320 second; f/9; ISO 100 ©Petro Katerynych/ Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @p.k.wildlife

BETWEEN TWO WORLDS Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritus.)

Espíritu Santo, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Henley Spiers, United Kingdom.

Category: Black and White.

Ten metres down, I found myself hovering between two worlds.

Below, an enormous school of fish covered the bottom as far as I could see. Above, a single Double-crested Cormorant patrolled the surface, catching its breath and peering down at a potential underwater feast. The cormorant, better designed for swimming than flying, would dive down at speed, aggressively pursuing the fish. The school would move in unison to escape the bird’s sharp beak, making it difficult to isolate a single target. More often than not, the bird returned to the surface empty-billed, and peace would momentarily be restored. I would squint up at the sunny surface, trying to keep track of the predator and anticipate its next underwater raid. This image captures the hostile black silhouette of the cormorant as it dives down onto its prey, which for a brief moment remain unaware of the danger above.

Nikon D850 with Nikon 28–70mm f/3.5–4.5 lens. Focal length 28mm; 1/500 second; f/8; ISO 500 © Henley Spiers/ Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @henleyspiersphoto

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Winners FACING THE STORM Dunlin (Calidris alpina).

Heligoland, Germany.

Levi Fitze, Switzerland.

Category: 14–17 years.

Last autumn I spent a week on the tiny North Sea island of Heligoland. The weather was quite bad and I didn’t see a single nice sunrise. However, the opportunity to observe all kind of shorebirds made up for the conditions. When I saw a group of Dunlin struggling with a small sandstorm, I decided to risk my equipment and attempt to photograph them. I could really see on their faces how annoyed they were by the wind and sand flying everywhere. I sympathised with them.

Sony A7R IV with Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM lens. Focal length 400mm; 1/1,250 second; f/2.8; ISO 125.

© Levi Fitze / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @levifitze

DROPLETS Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna.)

Fremont, California, United States of America.

Parham Pourahmad, United States of America.

Category: 9–13 years.

In Fremont there is a water fountain that is a hotspot for hummingbirds. The birds like to bathe in the water, or in this case catch and sip the droplets. When the birds fly around among the droplets, it provides great opportunities for photography. I had to use a very fast shutter speed to freeze the water droplets and the wings of this Anna’s Hummingbird.

No bait or calls were used.

Nikon D3500 with Sigma 150–600mm f/5–6.3 lens.

Focal length 600mm; 1/4,000 second; f/6.3; ISO 2,800 © Parham Pourahmad/ Bird Photographer of the Year

HOOT ARE YOU? Barred Owl Strix varia.

Acadia National Park, Maine, United States of America.

Arjun Jenigiri, United States of America.

Category: 8 and under.

One of my parents’ friends, who lives nearby, took us on a hike to a location where she had seen Barred Owl chicks earlier in the week. Amazingly, we were just a few minutes into the hike when we heard them calling. Eventually we got to see four owlets, which was amazing. One landed close by and peered at me from behind a tree trunk in a way that seemed to express curiosity. I was thrilled to be able to capture the moment and pleased that the judges appreciated the photo.

Canon EOS 700D with Canon 55–250mm f/4–5.6 lens.

Focal length 250mm; 1/30 second; f/7.1; ISO 1,600 © Arjun Jenigiri/ Bird Photographer of the Year

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Bird Photographer of the Year 2022:

Overall Winner

ROCK PTARMIGAN FLIGHT Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus Muta) Tysfiord, Norway Erlend Haarberg, Norway Category: Overall Winner & Birds In The Environment GOLD AWARD WINNER AND BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Read Erlend Haarberg’s statement below: High above the tree-line, the wind, snow and cold maintain the iron grip of winter for months on end. This is where Rock Ptarmigan thrive, small white feather-balls in an endless white landscape. On this particular winter day, I was on my way to a mountain top by Tysfjorden to photograph landscapes. I had almost reached the summit when I spotted some ptarmigan tracks criss-crossing between the rocks, where the wind had uncovered some sparse vegetation. From behind a rock, a small head appeared, and seconds later it took to the wing with the mountains and fjord landscape in the background, setting the scene perfectly.

Nikon D850 with Nikon 70–200mm f/2.8 lens. Focal length 95mm; 1/2,500 second; f/10; ISO 800. © Erlend Haarberg / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @haarbergphoto

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Young Bird Photographer Of The Year FACING THE STORM Dunlin (Calidris alpina) Heligoland, Germany.

Levi Fitze, Switzerland.

Category: 14–17 years.

GOLD AWARD WINNER AND YOUNG BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR. Read Levi Fitze’s statement below: High above the tree-line, the wind, snow and cold maintain the iron grip of winter for months on end. This is where Rock Ptarmigan thrive, small white feather-balls in an endless white landscape. On this particular winter day, I was on my way to a mountain top by Tysfjorden to photograph landscapes. I had almost reached the summit when I spotted some ptarmigan tracks criss-crossing between the rocks, where the wind had uncovered some sparse vegetation. From behind a rock, a small head appeared, and seconds later it took to the wing with the mountains and fjord landscape in the background, setting the scene perfectly.

Sony A7R IV with Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM lens. Focal length 400mm; 1/1,250 second; f/2.8; ISO 125 © Levi Fitze / Bird Photographer of the Year IG: @levifitze

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Arrival of Autumn Photographer: Dan Knight IG: @danknightphotos

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The Beauty Of Wildlife Photographer: Matthew Ryan IG: @matt_photography6

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AUTUMN MORNING

FOXES Photographer: Scott Duffield IG: @scott.duffield.photography

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Will HALL

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

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for a charity up here educating anyone and everyone about the amazing flora and fauna that lives in the UK. My background is in animal biology and conservation although I am generally quite an active and adventurous man. I freelancer with a few different jobs including mountain leader, photographer, filmmaker, wildlife presenter, and expedition leader.

Hopefully, this small article won't ramble too much as I have a tendency to be rather eclectic with my interests and passions!

Will Hall

Before I moved up to Scotland and before I was a coach I was studying at Oxford Brookes and spent an arguably unnecessary amount of time rowing at one of the best rowing universities in the world.

I completed a few times for Great Britain but decided to move on from the competition scene in 2017 when I became a coach instead.

Follow Will here Instagram: @willhall.wildlife Website: www.willhallwildlife.co.uk

Hi Will, thanks for agreeing to be interviewed on our photography spotlight for Conker Nature Magazine!

Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself & what it is you do.

My name is Will and I currently live up in Scotland in a remote and beautiful part of Scotland called the Moray Coast. I came from down south in Hampshire and I moved up here last year to make the most of the incredible wildlife, people and scenery.

I spent the best part of five years working at a school down south as a rowing coach and I hadn’t really been using my degree and so I decided to make the trip north and work

WILDLIFE MAGAZINE

I picked up photography during the lockdown in 2019 and taught myself everything through YouTube. I would use my allocated one hour of daily exercise during lockdown to photograph anything and everything very slowly gaining experience and knowledge which has got me to where I am now.

Since then photography and videography have taken me all over the UK and, more recently, taken me a little bit further afield as well!

In 2021 I decided to leave the school that I was working at and use my degree more effectively in Scotland. Incidentally, this also allowed me to explore my passion for photography and filmmaking a little more as the wildlife here is utterly astounding!

You work as a wildlife presenter and photographer, having studied animal conservation and animal biology at Oxford Brookes.

Interview with Will Hall

Previous to that, when and what inspired you to first become engaged with nature?

I grew up in a small village in Hampshire which was probably around 15 to 20 minutes away from the nearest town and subsequently there wasn't a huge amount to do, short of walking or exploring the countryside.

I was always a fairly introverted kid. Don't get me wrong, I like people but I have always been fairly comfortable by myself and exploring solo.

And so when I was a child I would take myself off for days at a time walking by myself or with my dog. I would do what I currently get to teach the kids… I would climb trees, jump in rivers, get super muddy, look for insects and animals and just generally make a nuisance of myself and then come home and hand a great big pile of dirty washing to my mum who would scoff at me but never put me down for being adventurous.

During my wanderings, I would make up stories about how I was a wildlife presenter or how I discovered a new species hidden within the quintessentially British countryside.

I probably would've been considered a bit of a strange kid, I was forever talking to myself or waving a stick around and, to be honest, not much is changed nowadays! I suspect that it was probably these adventures that led me to where I am now.

I was very fortunate that my father and mother were working in the TV industry and so they really pushed me to do more stuff relating to filmmaking. I remember vividly my father lending me a very old cassette camera which I took to the local river and filmed a pair of swans on.

It's a real shame that I can't find that video anymore as I think it will be truly hilarious. I think I actually gave some kind of narration about

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what the swans were doing and I may have even named them. I shudder at the thought of my squeaky voice narrating the lives of two fairly underwhelming swans on a small river in Hampshire but then again maybe things haven't changed all that much from what I'm doing nowadays again! Only this time I get paid a little money for doing it.

You used to be a professional rower and coach, and presently a mountain leader and outdoor instructor, with an obvious love for outdoor adventure. What inspired you to make the change, and what do you love most about this industry?

To put it in a nutshell it was probably Covid that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I picked up rowing at the age of 13 and continue to row pretty solidly until the age of 25 when I left university.

If any of your readers have recently left university they will know that it's quite daunting. Although you may have a degree in a particular subject it doesn't necessarily mean that you will end up getting a job in that industry. Jobs are incredibly competitive and, as a 20-something-year-old man with no experience in the field, I had no idea what I really wanted to do.

Every conservation job that I looked to apply to had requested that applicants had the experience of 2-5 years in the industry or similar. And so when the school where I had previously learned to row offered me a job as an assistant coach I thought that the money was pretty good (I was fairly poor at the time) and that I’d like to share my interest and love of the sport with other young people.

I should say that I loved working as a coach. I got promoted to head coach after my first year and I stayed there for a further three years until 2020.

The thing that I love so much about working as a sports coach is working with young people. Over the course of a year, you deal with everything from academic pressures, to bullying, to parental issues and I found it very rewarding to be able to act as some kind of support to these kids.

I remember one teenager came to see me at the end of a session to discuss an issue with bullying which he hadn't been able to bring to anyone else because he felt that sport and the coaching team were the closest thing to family that he had at the school. The privilege I felt at being able to support a child in need was something very unique and also very moving.

During my time as a coach, I work on a beautiful river in Hampshire called the river Itchen. It's a very rare environment as it is a chalk stream and therefore extremely clear and clean water and I would try and spot things like kingfishers, otters, or water voles while I was working.

This started to rekindle a passion for the great outdoors again. So I got to work, and I decided to get my mountain leader qualification, I started doing free online courses on things like weather or animal behaviour and this led me to decide that I didn't want to be based down south in England anymore.

I wasn't sure where I wanted to be based, all that I knew was that I didn't want to be around lots of people, and not much open space.

I actually had a job lined up in Namibia in 2019 working as an outdoor leader which I was over the moon about… but then Covid changed a lot of our plans and I had to reevaluate. In 2020, I was offered a job working for Wild Things! in Findhorn, which is an educational charity, and I decided to go for it. I remember that my mum's parting words to me before I left for Scotland was that I would either “absolutely hate it or not be able to leave”. Well, I'm still here. So I suspect that the latter was true!

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I know that my view is perhaps not shared by everyone, but from my perspective a lot of us spend the majority of our life working at a job that don't necessarily love in order to be able to make enough money to enjoy the time away from that same job. This time off is invariably substantially less than than the amount of time we’re working and that just doesn’t make sense in my brain.

For me, I have always wanted to work at a job that I love in order to be able to make enough money to do loads of different, fun adventures on my time off. This means that I very rarely have any money, but I do get to have some quite cool stuff!

Life is very short and I am very fortunate to be able to do what I love on a regular basis. I know that not many people get to have that freedom.

I'm also very fortunate that I had enough financial support from my parents when I was younger to facilitate these adventures.

We will come onto this, but this is why I think what Wild Things! does is so important. Everyone should have the means and opportunity to experience nature regardless of their background or circumstance.

I was recently described as having “productivity anxiety”. Apparently this is a legitimate thing and it means that if I'm not doing something I feel stressed. This means that I have a tendency to burn the candle at both ends when it comes to work and commitments. So for me, a lifestyle where I can walk up mountains, climb up trees and jump in rivers is a lifestyle which offers me freedom but also relaxation. I, like many of your readers, find solace and comfort in the great outdoors.

Is there anyone who has been influential in your life and love of nature, and how have they been influential?

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I actually think that the person that first started my interest and passion in the great outdoors was my grandfather Henry ‘Bill’ Hall.

I remember as a small child we would run up to his bedroom and sit on his bed as he made up stories about the frogs and dragonflies that lived in his pond. My sister and I would then spend the rest of our holidays looking in the pond trying to spot the aforementioned wildlife.

Papa, as we called him, was a hugely knowledgeable and passionate man supporting numerous charities and always pushed me and my sister to pursue careers that we loved.

He was vice president of the Scouts Association and there is a story which he used to tell us of how he once, as a child, met Lord Baden-Powell whilst crossing the monkey bridge. He greeted Baden-Powell who replied loudly and angrily to him "hold on with both hands and don't forget the salute!”. Papa and my father both have a passion for storytelling and I owe my desire to pass on knowledge to them I suspect.

I wouldn't be a naturalist if it weren't for TV. When you're a child you are plonked in front of the television and you pretty much just ingest what you see.

Luckily for me most of the things that I was watching on TV were wildlife documentaries. I would watch things like CBBC’s World's Deadliest Animals or BBC's Blue Planet religiously. I would regurgitate facts like some sort of mother bird at any opportunity, citing, of course, the incredibly talented Sir David Attenborough and also my childhood hero Nick Baker - whom I have very fortunately gone to work with.

I know that I am not alone in my universal support and adoration of Sir David Attenborough. He has done more for natural history than, in my opinion, any man before him.

TV can reach billions of people and I for one would not have picked up such a passion in

Interview with Will Hall

if it weren't for his shows and knowledge. I have attended a couple of lectures from him and I can assure your readers that he is just as charming and lovely in person as he sounds on television.

Finally, I have worked or volunteered at a number of zoos, conservancies, and environmental companies and the passionate individuals who work there have helped round me as a naturalist and as a person. They more or less have taught me what I know nowadays.

Whether it was working with spectacled bears at Durrell zoo, being shown how to light a fire using a bow drill at Wild Things!, or even learning that the giant Amazonian river otter is more dangerous in the zoo classification system than wolves. I am hugely grateful to those that I have worked with to help me get to where I am now.

You originate from Southern England, but you’re now based in Scotland.

What is your favourite part of the Scottish Highlands, and what species from Scotland do you love the most?

This is a really difficult question because, to be honest, I haven't travelled enough around Scotland to pick a favourite place yet. As I said earlier I live on the Moray coastline which is utterly staggering. It's a bit like Cornwall except without the people. So, unfortunately, I can't give you just one location.

The Cairngorms are magical, easily accessible, and rich with wildlife. On the other side of the Moray Firth is the black isle which is a hidden gem for people that want to look for fossils or try and spot dolphins. If you had to the west you hit the mountains like Ben Wyvis where ptarmigan reside. On the far west of Scotland are the Scottish islands of Mull and Skye which are breathtakingly beautiful and have some of the most lively populations of otters and red deer.

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North of Scotland are the Outer Hebrides - these islands are particularly remote but also incredibly stunning with white seashell beaches and incredibly clear turquoise oceans. The landscape is diverse and wonderful. I realise that this sounds entirely like an advert for Scotland and perhaps it is in some ways. Because as an Englishman moving to Scotland I could not have imagined a more perfect place.

Similarly it is very difficult for me to pin down the wildlife species that I love the most. There's a lot of species here which I hadn't appreciated before coming up: things like red squirrels, red deer, ptarmigan , capercaillie and loads more.

I think if I were allowed to pick two of my favourites then I would say the osprey which is a summer migrant and the mountain hares. The former migrate to the Scottish coastline to raise their offspring each year. The females arrive in the early spring followed soon after by the males. Watching an osprey hover and fish is one of the most impressive things that I have ever seen.

These ginormous birds dive at breakneck speeds to catch enormous fish which they can then fly back to their chicks. It's also pretty remarkable that they have the energy and power to make it all the way back to the eastern coast of Africa every year.

The mountain hares are here throughout the year, choosing not to migrate to Africa as I think that might be a little bit difficult.

Instead, the remarkable thing about these animals is that they entirely change their outfits every year. Switching from dusty brown colours during the summer and spring to pearly white coats during the winter and autumn. I would say that one of the most special encounters that I have had since being up here is tracking and photographing mountain hares in the western Cairngorms. The footprints that these animals leave behind are fairly easy to see in snow and after several hours of following one individual, I found him and another crouching deep in the snow.

Observing and photographing these animals was a real treat.

As mentioned previously, you are currently a mountain leader and outdoor instructor. You work as a bushcraft instructor for a charity known as Wild Things! in the Scottish Highlands.

Can you give an introduction for our readers on what Wild Things! is about?

Here's some free advertising for Wild Things! – what they do is an essential, underrated and under-appreciated asset to not only Morayshire but the whole of Scotland.

Essentially what Wild Things! does is offer educational programs for free to underprivileged children and adults in the community.

The charity is split into four main parts: the first is taking out primary school groups on a six-week course teaching then everything from den building to animal tracking. These groups could be up to 25 and can be fairly chaotic at times but without fail the kids get loads out of the sessions and it's always sad to leave them after the course ends.

The second part is our teenage groups with a slightly more fleshed-out course running over eight weeks focusing not only on animals, plants and nature but also with a heavy emphasis on bushcraft.

The teenagers who attend these courses are generally less academic or struggle in school educational system and so exposure to the natural world is often very alien to them.

I really enjoy working with this age group particularly because we often see the greatest change in individuals by the time they finish. They gain a bushcraft qualification by attending and also a huge amount of knowledge and experience of the natural world.

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The next section of the charity is focused on adult mental health. Primarily on educating those with mental health anxieties and issues. These are slightly looser sessions often led and supported by those who have signed up to them. I have run these groups and covered things like meditation or mindful thinking as well as covering all of the same material in the previous two groups.

The final part of the Wild Things! charitable work is with older adults. Scotland in particular has a problem with loneliness and depression in older adults. Because communities are generally remote and spread out it can be difficult for those who are widowed or who live alone to find support and comfort near them. And so, what Wild Things! does is offer day trips and community sessions with older adults and care homes teaching them about the natural world (and even bushcraft!). The focus of the sessions is not necessarily to pass on a wealth of knowledge but mainly to offer support to those in need. This could be as simple as a cup of tea or a conversation but in my opinion, these are some of the most rewarding sessions that we do.

A part of Wild Things! is the education you provide to people. What is the one thing that surprises people when they join you on an educational adventure?

Probably that there is wildlife everywhere.

Whether you live in remote Scotland or in the middle of Glasgow there is always something around you.

Something to look at or something to pick up and sniff (maybe not in Glasgow!). Life is rich and diverse and there is always something to find.

Moving onto your personal projects, you are a professional wildlife photographer and videographer.

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When and how did you get involved in the wildlife filmmaking industry, and what do you love most about being a filmmaker?

As I said, I actually started from photography. I moved on to videography and filmmaking when I came to Scotland really. I started making small videos for Wild Things! and then I worked for a couple of charities locally doing promotional content for them.

It's really slow going because unless you're based in Bristol where the natural history unit for the BBC is, it's hard to make a name for yourself as a wildlife filmmaker. I also seem to fill my time with absolutely anything and everything which means that any filming that I do has to be done in my free time.

I’m slowly but surely making headway with wildlife filmmaking and presenting and I have a couple of interesting projects with the (RSPB) and with a new bird mapping app called Birda.

There are a lot of very talented and experienced individuals living and working around the UK as filmmakers. With more experience comes more opportunities and so all I can say is that grabbing any opportunity that is open to you is the best way forward. I fully appreciate how difficult that is to do and sometimes it feels overwhelming for me too. You may well send out hundreds of emails and queries to people and hear nothing back which is sometimes very difficult.

The thing I love most about filmmaking is the ability to tell your story and use your images and content to create something beautiful. It means that you can share your passion for the outdoors with those who may be can't see it themselves.

Being a professional photographer, you also aid other photographers to hone their skills in your workshops.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting in their photography journey?

Interview with Will Hall

This is an easy one! And something that I regularly preach on any course or to anyone that asks me how to improve their photography. Get down low! Always photograph at the subject’s eye level. Whether it’s an eagle or a duck, getting to the same level as your subject creates a sense of connection between the subject and the viewer.

This might mean that you end up getting wet or muddy but I can guarantee that it will create a more interesting and imaginative image.

Shooting up at the subject creates a sense of drama and superiority too.

For example, if a red deer stag is photographed from below it looks impressive and regal but if it's photograph from above it looks inferior and small. The stories you can tell with images can be just as powerful as those you can tell in film.

As a wildlife filmmaker and outdoor lecturer what is one species that you are concerned about protecting, and why is that species so special for you?

It has to be the European beaver. I've just finished writing an article about these amazing animals and I think they are so crucial for our environment because they have the ability to make drastic changes to their ecosystem. It's so wonderful to see a species which was previously heavily persecuted starting to make a comeback in the British Isles.

It's very special to me because, as big-headed as this sounds, there aren't many UK species which I haven't seen in my 28 years. And so when I had the opportunity to finally spot a beaver last month in Devon it was like being a kid again. It's so special to be able to retain that childish excitement about nature and the environment. I won't witter on too much about them as I've written an entire article about their intricacies but I will say that as contentious as they are as a species, I think it's fantastic to see them back on UK rivers again!

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What is the most interesting thing you have learnt about wildlife over the years?

This is a really difficult question to answer!

I don't want to avoid it altogether but I don't think I can pick just one single thing that I find interesting about wildlife. The nature of my job and my whole existence is built upon me finding everything about nature and wildlife fascinating!

It changes with the times as well. For example, I have just been doing some research on wasps spiders and discovered that they will put a zig-zag shape into their webs in order to stop birds from flying into them and damaging the fragile network of strands, it also serves to attract insects and invertebrates for them to eat.

Before that I did a project on gannets and learned that, before they dive into the water looking for fish, they inhale a breath which inflates membranes around their bodies to absorb the impact of the shock.

As I said previously, I've just written an article on beavers and discovered that in the 17th century the pope reclassified the beaver as a fish because of their scaly tails in order to allow his congregation to eat beavers during Lent on Fridays.

So you see that it is incredibly difficult to pin down exactly one fact about wildlife that I've learned. You don't have to be in Costa Rica or Madagascar to find incredible wildlife on your doorstep. I'm very fortunate that I get to research and learn about these species myself!

Last year I did some filming for a company called Gone West. Gone West work as a tree planting charity, aiming to offset the carbon emissions of blue label companies that you have probably heard of.

For example, if you've ever bought a product which says “we will plant a tree for every one of these you buy”, Gone West is the company which actually does the tree planting. They’ve planted over 1 million trees and have aspirations to expand drastically. I was asked to get some promotional footage of some sites that they have recently planted and also some sites which they had planted 10 years ago.

It's very clear from these locations just how powerful the regeneration of the area has been: when a region is cleared for logging very little is left behind, but when mixed species woodlands are planted in their place, over just 10 years one can quite clearly see the diversity of the ecosystem which springs up. There's a vast influx of native flora and fauna which, in turn, corrects aspects like flooding and soil acidity, leading to a more balanced ecosystem.

The nature of the filming meant that I was asked to climb up vast mountains to find the areas which have been planted. I was alone with just my camera and the map trying to find these locations and it was by far and away the most challenging and exciting filming that I've done in the UK. The charity is great, and run by an eccentric and passionate man called James (Jimmy) and I suspect that we will be hearing a lot more about Gone West in the future.

In a nutshell, during the second world war, some brave Allied special forces skied into a German factory in order to blow it up, thereby stopping Hitler's ability to create nuclear weapons.

Incredibly, they managed it and escaped onto the vast icy plateau called the Vidda.

They then survived for the following nine months on this wasteland eating reindeer and lichen. We followed the route which had been marked out previously, and to our knowledge very few people have done this challenge during winter conditions.

We followed the route which they had done during the "assault phase" right up to the factory itself, most of which still stands today. We then continued on to the “escape phase” and headed 15 km out onto the Vidda, where we spent the night under the stars in -25°C. I'd never been ice climbing before that trip and to be honest I found it incredibly challenging (I’m a heavy lump, not built for climbing!) but also incredibly rewarding. I really pushed my comfort zone during that expedition and I cannot wait to go back to Norway again! It also made me appreciate the lengths that the Heroes of Telemark had gone to in a truly terrifying time.

If you've never heard of the Heroes of Telemark before, then I thoroughly recommend that you do some research about that incredible story.

You are also a writer for your website blog on willhallwildlife.co.uk. What has been your favourite subject to write on and why?

Over the years you have undertaken many experiences with organisations in the UK.

What has been the best expedition you have been on and, why?

This is another really tricky question as I really enjoy writing in general. I just finished writing a new article about the outer Hebrides and I absolutely loved that because it was something This is another really tricky question as I really enjoy writing in general.

What has been your most memorable experience, and why?

At the beginning of this year I took a trip with four friends to Norway. We have decided to do a charitable expedition following the route previously described by the Heroes of Telemark.

I just finished writing a new article about the outer Hebrides and I absolutely loved that because it was something a little bit different to what I was used to.

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As an outdoor adventurer, you travel the world on a number of expeditions.

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I talked a lot about the geography and the local attractions of the area and it read more like a travel blog rather than a wildlife blog which was refreshing for me to write.

I suppose if I really had to pick just one of my blogs or articles which I've written it would probably be the one about the badgers. This post was among the most complicated to write and was more of an amalgamation of lots of little projects involving a local badger sett nearby. In order to put this blog together I need to track down the badgers using some new skills including looking for latrines, footprints, hair et cetera I then need to put down a trail cam to establish whether or not the sett was active, and at what times. And finally it was a question of sitting out late at night waiting to get that perfect shot. I like writing it because it was a way of drawing together all of the various threads that were involved in getting the image that I was after.

Plus, what's not to love about a badger?

What is your biggest aspiration for your writing? What would you like to see your articles become?

A bit like how I was inspired to look closer at the world by the likes of Sir David Attenborough, my grandfather, and Nick Baker, I would love my articles to be able to be used in teaching or to educate others in stuff that they maybe did not know about before. I would love for my writing to be helpful to others. I write about the things that I am interested in and passionate about and hopefully I write in a fairly understandable and colloquial way. So hopefully my writing is digestible for anyone at any level of their learning. It would be amazing for me to impart just a small amount of knowledge and passion to the next generation.

From a personal perspective it's hugely rewarding and cathartic to write.

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When I was at school I loved English and as I've got older I haven't found the time to read and write as much, and so having an outlet for all of my various passions and projects is really fun. It also acts as a means of bringing together all of my various interests from videography, to photography, to research.

Not only this but these articles act as a sort of timeline for my career. I'm only two or three years into photography and already I can look back at some of the work that I did when I first started either with despair or with pride. It's nice to be able to do that and to be able to have some kind of road map for where I'm going and where I've been.

If any of your readers on the fence about writing and blogging then I would say give it a go. It's good to practice and put into words what we hear and see. With modern technology we are often hidden behind screens and we sometimes forget the nuances of written text. It's an opportunity to put your personal mark on the subject and that's something to be proud of! And who knows, other people might like to read what you produce!

What is your next project lined up? What aspect are you most looking forward to?

I've been throwing around some ideas recently about some fun new videos to produce. I think the one that I'm most excited for is to do a video on mountain hares again during the winter.

These are incredibly challenging and fun videos to make purely because of the conditions (the temperatures can be pretty darn cold!).

Before the snow comes though, I have a project in mind to do on nighttime rock pooling. We usually only go down to the beaches and the rock pools during the daytime but at night the species which can be found in these little pockets of water are much more active and can be much more diverse.

So I would love to make a video and possibly an article about this activity which is pretty unique and different.

I also have a few long-term projects which I have been wanting to put together for awhile so who knows, hopefully I'll have the time in the next couple of months to do them as well. These include projects on fossil hunting, pine martens, the Cairngorms and loads more!

What advice would you give to the past you and what advice would you give people with similar interests and dreams for a career such as yours?

I would offer two pieces of advice: 1 - Take every opportunity which is available to you. This means scouring the Internet for job opportunities, or just social networking and reaching out to people. Generally, I think people are good and helpful if you approach them in the right way. Don't be afraid to put yourself in a position where you could be rejected by a company or organisation because unless you reach out to people you will not be discovered.

When I first started out I had kind of hoped that by putting content onto Instagram or onto my website that people would just see it and want to hire me for jobs. Sadly, this isn't the case. There are so many talented individuals out there that you will not be sought after. When you come to terms with that fact, that you aren’t particularly special, you gain the power to control where your career goes. You have to be willing to work to get noticed.

2 - How you spend your days, is how you will spend your life. The more you practice your interests and your passions the further they will take you. I am a long way from where I would like to be but by going out with my camera every single day or by chasing the project that I want to be involved in I set myself up for success. Not that I can offer advice to people on this matter but I wish it was something that I'd learn earlier.

Do what you love as regularly as you can and hope that everything falls into place. Luck has got a huge part to play as well, but you can make your own luck by putting yourself in the best possible position.

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Finally, where can people access information from you about joining a photography course or one of your outdoor adventure skills?

You can reach out to me through my website willhallwildlife.co.uk but to be honest the best way to get in touch with me is through my Instagram @willhall.wildlife because I’m in a constant state of repair on my website and sometimes things slip through the cracks.

Fortunately Instagram seems to be a little bit more solid and you can usually get me through that. This doesn't just have to be for joining photography courses or any of my outdoor adventure courses; it could just be a simple as wanting advice or having a chat about wildlife.

Brilliant! Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, Will. I’m sure the readers of Conker Nature Magazine will enjoy learning more about you and your photography experience and appreciate your tips and advice!

Will Hall

Follow Will here Instagram: @willhall.wildlife Website: www.willhallwildlife.co.uk Read more of Will Hall's work for Conker Nature on our website.

At www.conkernature.com To find out how you can be interviewed for our wildlife photography spotlight visit our website guides www.conkernature.com/contribute

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AUTUMN AFTERNOONS IN THE WOODLAND MEADOWS Photographer: Scott Duffield IG: @scott.duffield.photography

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Autumnal waterfalls Photographer: Scott Duffield IG: @scott.duffield.photography

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Nature: The Next Generation Written By Emily Hunt Instagram: @em_loves_nature_ Creating a generation of people who care about nature is vital. Environmental awareness encourages people to make sustainable choices, do what they can in their local area and support campaigns. My generation has the potential to be a catalyst to great change and play a key role in reversing the current biodiversity and climate crisis. But to do this, we must feel connected and involved with the natural world.

It is well documented that young people are spending less and less time in nature, and this is apparent from my own experience. Recently I have heard a lot of conversations about ways of getting more young people engaged with nature - but as yet, there doesn’t seem to be an obvious solution as to how we do so.

After running an informal survey on Instagram about attitudes towards nature and the climate crisis among my peers (age 11-18), I received an encouraging response.

The majority (95%) voted to say that they would be interested in learning more about nature. This shows that young people are willing to be taught about the natural world. The issue is, how do we do this?

The general consensus of opinion is that interest is being lost from around age 11 onwards, when students transition to secondary school. At primary we access nature regularly through Forest School and outdoor play. It is natural for children to be fascinated by ‘minibeasts’, enjoy time in nature, and show curiosity about the world around them - it is very easy to get young children to enjoy outdoor activities. However, when we transition to secondary school, this fizzles out. We lose this inclusion of nature in our daily lives and learning and begin to feel pressure to fit in with our peers – showing an interest in nature is not deemed cool and can certainly harm your street cred! Secondary education also comes with an increased workload and more expectations - this zaps a lot of free time which could otherwise be spent outdoors.

It is widely agreed that action needs to be taken to support young people, harness their interest and ensure it doesn’t fade away during these years. There is much debate about how best to do this.

I have recently attended Hen Harrier Festival as part of the Young Wild Writer competition. Author Gill Lewis spoke about reaching people through writing and poetry, echoing a concept I first heard from Dara McAnulty at Guernsey Literary Festival this year. Dara described writing as his activism, as his way of getting his voice heard and making a difference. I think that creativity could be key to hooking the curiosity of young people and maintaining their interest before it is too late. Reaching people through art, writing and music would be an accessible, inclusive approach towards finding a solution.

Recently I met with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to discuss their current approaches towards youth engagement and plans for the future - during our meeting we discussed one project taking place in Coventry. Graffiti artists are creating beautiful murals in the city to celebrate its 'hidden nature', including peregrines and foxes. This is an example of how we can encourage people to appreciate nature in creative ways.

Interestingly, at Birdfair this year, one of the main solutions cited was the new Natural History GCSE. The event hosted many discussions centred on youth. One which particularly interested me was the Youth Panel, consisting of four prominent young conservationists who were posed the question ‘how can we get more young people involved with nature?’. Everyone on the panel seemed to have high hopes that the Natural History GCSE will have great effect.

The Natural History GCSE will be introduced in 2025, and has the potential to be a fantastic addition to the curriculum, educating pupils about the natural world and local wildlife as well as global challenges such as climate change, the biodiversity crisis and sustainability.

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Hopefully, it will have a great impact and will be taken up by many students across the country.

However, it will be an optional subject which you can choose at 14. Does this mean this action is too late? If young people are losing interest from age 11 then they have around 3 years to disengage from nature before they have the chance to take the GCSE. What’s more, this GCSE obviously needs a trained staff member to teach it, and the school must choose it as one of their available options in the first place. Not all schools offer a wide range of GCSEs, particularly some comprehensive schools which may be starved of resources - so, maybe not all students will have access to this GCSE anyway? Therefore I feel it would be beneficial for schools to introduce more nature and environment-centred topics across the curriculum - for example, why not study a Greta Thunberg speech when learning about persuasive writing in English?

Students experiencing private or independent education I expect will be more likely to have Natural History as an option. Having researched some of my local private schools, it seems that they generally offer a more diverse range of subjects. Also, they seem to offer more extracurricular activities, some of which focus on the outdoors and the natural world. There seems to be more emphasis on mental health and well-being in their ethos.

From my personal experience at a comprehensive school, extracurricular activities are mostly sports or homework clubs. Teachers often have a heavy workload and therefore little spare time. During my meeting with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, it was mentioned that the Trust finds it hard to do outreach work in schools unless there is a particularly passionate teacher for them to work alongside, and to continue the projects without support.

Also, students in comprehensive schools may have less access to outdoor space - some school

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fields in my local area have been sold for housing. Plus, the school must consider maintenance costs for what they have - my school pond was filled in to save money as they couldn't afford to repair it.

I would suggest there is a divide between private and comprehensive schools in terms of access to nature, as well as inclusion of it in the curriculum. In an ideal world, the Natural History GCSE would be implemented into every school across the country – but in reality, could a GCSE taken up only by schools who have the resources to do so actually further the divide?

This strengthens the argument that nature is not as accessible for the average person. Those who are more affluent will generally find it easier to pursue their interests, and are more likely to make it through secondary without losing them.

Furthermore, a membership to an organisation such as the RSPB is costly and may be unobtainable to many teenagers – which means so are wildlife magazines, applications to youth councils and events. This excludes many youths from the nature community and leaves them isolated.

Of course, there are other ways that we can connect with like-minded people. Social media hosts a fantastic nature community, where we can share our interests. Many of us see the amazing photographs taken by young nature enthusiasts, who visit interesting places and see 'bucket-list' species. It is inspiring to see others of a similar age sharing their experiences. But if teenagers don't have the expensive camera kit or opportunities to take similarly brilliant photos, do they feel excluded from this part of the community?

So, could the online young nature community play a part in the effort to get more young people into nature? How can we include everybody?

There are some great schemes available, such as the BTO's equipment donation scheme, for young people across the country. I was lucky to be gifted a lens by a photographer friend who recognised my enthusiasm for nature from my Instagram page.

This enabled me to take better photos, see wildlife in greater detail and connect with more fantastic people on social media – which demonstrates just how important equipment can be for young people to feel like part of the online nature community.

In addition, there are other ways for young people to get involved. Perhaps if prominent figures highlighted small scale achievements and community projects, others would feel like they too can participate.

So, is the Natural History GCSE the sole answer to solve the dilemma of youth engagement with nature? I believe it will certainly go a long way towards making a difference, but I think we also need to consider other approaches to reach as many teenagers as possible. We can connect with young people through art, music and writing, by giving them a chance to have their voices heard and by generally thinking a little outside the box.

We can create awareness of everyday species accessible to everyone and showcase how fascinating and exciting nature is. In order to make the biggest difference we need to involve everybody and make our nature community as inclusive as possible.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Hunt Emily Hunt is a young nature enthusiast and writer living in rural Warwickshire. Her writing has won many awards, she has even been featured at the Hen Harrier Festival in 2022. She writes poetry, articles, and blogs Follow Emily here IG: @em_loves_nature_ Twitter: @em_nature

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Freedom For The Fox Written by Emily Taylor Instagram: @capture_nature_emily_taylor

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As the long, dark, crisp winter nights start to descend Lighter nights will bring the return of my rust-coloured friend Spring is in the air, as I wait with excitement hoping to catch a fleeting glimpse of the vixen The sun starts to set, golden hour is upon us, as the sun starts to disappear, it’s your time to reappear My eyes dance across the lush grass fields, I give a whistle and I wait silently and kneel I hear a rustle and my long-awaited gaze meets yours Your eyes are innocent and yet you remain vigilant My burning desire to seek calm from my spirit animal and see you live in peace, free from harm, is only natural Why do we live in a world sometimes so complicated Stay clever, foxes, be free, for you are majestic and underestimated Marvel at moonlight, drink from the streams. Roam the woodland, chase butterflies, frolic and play, in this world it is your right to stay.

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Winchester’s wonderful wildlife Photographer: James Campion IG: @jmc._photography

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Autumnal Wonders Photographer: Emily Taylor IG: @capture_nature_emily_taylor

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A Year Through The Lens Photographer: Eddy Geale IG: @eddygealephotography Vero: @eddygealephotography

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PHOTOGRAPHER - DAN KNIGHT / @DANKNIGHTPHOTOS

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