Snaps and scribblings from an over-enthused, ever-enchanted inquisitor of the natural world.
Introduction
A keen naturalist from a young age, I now work as a ranger in North East England, caring for the countryside on behalf of a large conservation charity.
For as long as I can remember, I have always been enchanted by wildlife and nature. I can vividly recall some of my earliest encounters with the natural world, whether that be playing for hours on end with miniscule froglets in my grandparents’ garden, dissecting owl pellets at school or being startled by a slate-grey sparrowhawk plucking a woodpigeon in the back garden. As a child, none of my friends, to my knowledge possessed the same deep curiosity for nature or that constant desire to be immersed in wilder surroundings.
Fast forward a (good) few years and I now find myself living in that world of fascination every day, lucky enough to be among others of a similar inclination.
Working in conservation is a dream come true. It never really feels like work, but more of a hobby; an obsession, even a privilege. But the love of nature doesn’t stop when I sign off for the day. It’s always there, hence the creation of this blog which I set up back in 2020 as a way of sharing local wildlife with friends and family who were inhibited due to pandemic restrictions.
In recent years I have found myself fortunate to have collaborated with some wonderful wildlife and conservation-minded individuals and organisations. I have acted as guest blog writer for the Beaver Trust, Wild Intrigue and Hen Harrier Day UK, as well as contributing both online and magazine articles for the Natural History Society of Northumbria, based on project work and regional nature. In 2021 I authored The British River for the published anthology Connections with Nature: 50 moments of meeting the wild, edited by Kate Stephenson. My personal wildlife photography was featured in The Secret Life of a Woodland Habitat by Chloé Valerie Harmsworth in 2022.
Join me as I share diverse experiences with the wild through my blog writing and photography. Think riverbank rambles, woodland wanders and endless discoveries from daily life as a ranger in the UK. A celebration of natural history, magical wildlife interactions and a place to express a perpetual love of nature.
Welcome to The Ranger Diaries.
