SPACE
A number of people have remarked on the philosophical nature of some of my blogs.
They have a point. After all, at sixty-something, there’s clearly more of my life behind me than there is in front. I’m OK with that (I think….) as I firmly believe that the best time of your life is right now, so I very much live in the moment. Time spent wandering with my camera, however, gives me time to reflect on all of the good things life has given me. It’s made me who I am today and has brought me to this good place.
That said, I’m definitely not ready to be put out to grass just yet - I’ve got lots of ambitions and objectives to aim at. Retiring early and starting my photography business gives me a great opportunity to achieve them. I’m healthy and happy, and realise I’m more fortunate than lots of folks, so there are no barriers for the foreseeable.
After a very busy career I found myself craving time and space. I moved to a new part of the country just over 10 years ago and discovering new locations has given me a real sense of the space in this part of the world. Living on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park gives me as much space as anyone could need in a hundred lifetimes. Space brings benefits to both physical and spiritual wellbeing and allows the well documented space between my ears room to grow! The perfect scenario for a dreamer who appreciates nature and our wonderful planet.
My oldest friend tells me I’ve always been a deep thinker, so perhaps that approach comes across in my monthly observations of countryside ramblings. The real aim of my blog is to share the wonder I still feel each time I see a sunrise or sunset, or watch the changing of the seasons. I’m still that little lad following his big brother into the woods looking for frogspawn or nesting birds. We spent all day outdoors - it was a different world then. Mum had no fears about us, always saying “their bellies will bring them home.” How true. So my love of being outside has been with me all my life and I hope it never leaves me.
Looking ahead, there are ever increasing challenges to the space I enjoy so much. Urban expansion, changes to planning laws and huge environmental problems crank up the pressure on green space year on year. We’re fortunate that our National Parks and organisations such as the Woodland Trust protect many beautiful spaces, but there other less known, less publicised but equally valuable parcels of nature that need protecting as well. If the law makers can’t be made to care, then the future doesn’t look great. Climate change is impacting on nature more than ever before. As an example, Mountain Hares in Scotland are having to live at increasingly higher altitudes to find a season’s snow but there’s very little food in those habitats and their numbers are dropping alarmingly as a result.
It’s not all bad news though. Despite the loss of so much ancient woodland due to HS2, there seems to be a real will to increase forestry, particularly there in Wales, so I’m hopeful that lost habitats will be replaced and nurtured. We’re also seeing much more local action whenever environments are threatened and although not all are successful, it gives developers something to think about when selecting sites. None of them want to be dragged in to the High Court with the associated increase in costs and delays to projects. Folks don’t just lie down anymore and it proves to me that we value our open spaces more now than before the pandemic hit us nearly two years ago. It also proves that the little person has a voice and is prepared to use it.
Winter has never been my favourite season for photography. I hate the bare trees and seemingly endless grey days but we’re quickly approaching the Winter Solstice here in the northern hemisphere and the days will slowly get longer after that. Lots of opportunities to photograph frosty landscapes and foggy mornings and, fingers crossed, one or two snowy scenes before Spring arrives.
Spring - now there’s a season worth discussing. I could get quite philosophical about that ……..
I want to end by thanking everyone who has taken the time to read my blogs this year and send a special thanks to those who have been kind enough to provide feedback.
