About me and my photo challenge
On 1 July 2022, I set myself a simple challenge: share one nature photograph every day.
What began as a way of continuing the spirit of #30DaysWild beyond June soon became something much bigger. Day by day, season by season, the challenge grew into a personal record of the wildlife, landscapes and everyday moments of nature that can be found all around us.
Every photograph is taken on the day it is shared, using the phone I always carry with me. Some days feature colourful butterflies, fungi or dramatic sunsets. Other days focus on the quieter moments that are easy to overlook. Together they tell the story of changing seasons, local wildlife and the simple act of getting outdoors and paying attention.
More than four years later, the challenge is still going, one photograph at a time.
My Story
I’ve always enjoyed spending time outdoors. Growing up, my parents encouraged my sister and me to appreciate nature, and that love of being outside has stayed with me ever since.
These days, much of my time is still spent outdoors, whether through my work, walking with Jenny and the dog, or simply taking a few minutes to see what wildlife and nature are doing around me.
In June 2022, I took part in #30DaysWild, a challenge run by The Wildlife Trusts that encourages people to connect with nature every day for a month. I enjoyed it so much that when July arrived, I decided to keep going.
The plan was never to create a project lasting years. I simply wondered how long I could continue sharing one nature photograph each day.
As it turned out, much longer than I ever expected.
How It Started
The idea for the challenge actually started long before Day 1.
Back in November 2021, my friend Tasha Leigh Willets suggested I take on a 365-day nature photo challenge. Knowing how much walking I did, she thought it would be right up my street.
My response was simple: “No thanks.”
Fast forward to June 2022 and I was taking part in #30DaysWild, a challenge organised by The Wildlife Trusts encouraging people to connect with nature every day throughout June. Somewhere along the way, my opinion changed.
As June drew to a close, I decided to keep going into July and see how long I could continue sharing a nature photograph every day.
There was no grand plan, no target number of days and certainly no expectation that I would still be doing it years later.
I just started with Day 1 and carried on from there.
Four Years Later
What started as a simple challenge to continue beyond June 2022 is still going today.
There was never a target number of days, a finish line or a master plan. One day became a week, one week became a month and eventually months became years.
Along the way, the challenge has led to books, fundraising for charity, conversations with fellow nature lovers and countless discoveries that might otherwise have passed unnoticed.
Most importantly, it has reminded me that nature is never far away if we take the time to look.
pAckaging
Please note I will be sending books out from home and I am keen to reuse any packaging, so that deliveries can be a bit more sustainable. Apologies in advance if you wonder why your parcel may be in a 2nd hand wrapping.
Thank you.
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