Caught on film: A year at the meadow (From Bucks Free Press)

Caught on film: A year at the meadow

4:00pm Thursday 28th December 2006 in News By Lucinda Adam

A PHOTOGRAPHY exhibition of Wycombe wildlife and Chilterns history aims to give people a new insight into their surroundings in the New Year.

The New Year Exhibition at the Environment Centre on Holywell Mead opens on Tuesday, January 2.

This year's subject captures a year in the life of Funges Meadow, a small piece of land at the end of Bowden Lane, High Wycombe.

Organiser Frances Alexander, a trustee of the Environment Centre, commissioned photographer Dave French to prepare the show after the success of his exhibition The Rye and The Dyke last January.

Mrs Alexander said: "Everyone who saw it was greatly impressed by the photography and by the diversity of the birds and animals so close to our town centre.

"Dave French was impressed with his own work and told me he did not have another photograph in him. So I set him a challenge - to catch the changes in Funges Meadow through the year, and this is our exhibition."

"Everyone who saw it was greatly impressed by the photography and by the diversity of the birds and animals so close to our town centre."

Frances Alexander

Funges Meadow was boggy, unused land until 1997 when Frances Alexander, a trustee of the Environment Centre, used her chairmanship of Wycombe District Council to secure Local Agenda 21 funding to turn it into a nature reserve.

Mrs Alexander said: "First a pond was dug, and then some seedling trees were planted around. And now, nine years later it is alive with so many plants and animals. Dave has captured it all through the year."

A survey of fauna visiting the meadow, conducted in September with accompanying photographs, will also be on display.

Volunteer Kristin Thompson, who had the idea to record the birdlife, has written up the findings.

Another set of pictures on display will reveal Chilterns Then and Now, with photographs taken 50 years ago compared to more recent photos by the Chilterns Conservation Board.

The exhibition, which runs until February 25, 2007, will be open Tuesdays 11.30am to 1.30pm, Thursdays 11.30am to 3.30pm, Saturdays 11am to 4pm and Sundays 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

During the half term holidays, hours will be extended to 11am to 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

To arrange a group trip at other times, call 01494 511585.