The Blyth estuary is a magical place for me. It is constantly changing - light, tides, birds - everything is on the move. It’s a liminal landscape where the land becomes water and the water becomes land.
The Hen Reedbeds, managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, offer a roost to thousands of starlings over winter and is home to bittern, marsh harrier, bearded tits, water rails and even otter.
Whilst at first sight the estuary appears open and barren, it’s the little details that I like to capture, those transient moments that are gone all too quickly.
Suffolk is famous for its dramatic skies. The sun rises over the sea here on the east coast, creating magical golden sunrises. The winter sunsets are spectacular with luminous yellows, oranges, reds and purples. The proximity to the sea produces much turbulence and creates dramatic cloudscapes.
The sea. At once familiar but unknown, too. Unpredictable, powerful, elemental. A walk along the beach watching the waves crashing in is like pressing the ‘reset’ button. It brings a sense of perspective. It shapes and realigns much more than the sand on the beach.
Shapes, colours, light. Trees that are sculpted by the wind. The barren wheatfields with veins of life-sustaining hedges jeweled by a bird or flowers.
Ancient, decidious woodlands are wonderful places. An old woodland roars with life - it’s everywhere. The air feels different under the canopy and is full of the scent of living things.
Wistman’s Wood in Dartmoor is one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited and offers a glimpse into the wildwood we have almost entirely lost in Britain. I’m very lucky to live near Reydon Woods, a patch of medieval coppiced woodland managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. It’s very small, but it’s a little oasis amongst the open arable farmland.
Oak trees are my particular favourite - hosts to hundreds of species and simply lovely to look at.
I spent many years working at Adnams in Southwold. This beautiful town is a very special place and it constantly inspires me.
