What's this got to do with "nature photography" some of you ask? Unfortunately - "documentary" .
This is how a (fortunately small) section of our citizens see the countryside - a dumping ground for waste and for having fun in. There where the remains of electrical cable, tyres, asbestos sheeting etc etc. Some might think, "oh, it was probably the farmer or the local estate getting rid of rubbish" - but then ask yourself what farmer or keeper would deliberatley kill an entire family of Lapwing? 2 adult lapwing and 4 chicks where also found dead about 20ft from this pile on the access track - presumably shot with an airgun.
I've been finding more and more of this sort of thing in the last couple of years. Sometimes being a wildlife photographer can be a depressing thing .
Hello Nick
Having now retired from farming to concentrate more on my wildlife photography, I feel I can speak without fear of being biased in any way.
I used to farm between Blackpool and Lytham, an area which is close to 2 large towns but which maintains a rural aspect and has quite a large variety of wildlife. Certainly for the last 10 years, farming has become more beneficial for the wildlife and I have seen an increase in grey partridge and corn bunting numbers, to name but a few. The days of farmers ripping out hedges and using all sorts of chemicals on the land are long gone, so I think that you are right in drawing our attention to other causes of degradation of the countryside by mankind.
On my farm alone, we would receive regular dumps of all kinds of household rubbish, and there is a FREE tip within 3 miles. Many of the countryside road signs are also peppered by shotgun pellets so if the mindless idiots are prepared to abuse them, what do they do if they see any wildlife within shoooting distance?
Yes, I think you are correct in posting your image, just as I think Larry is too, with his dead badger image, in fact I think they both need as much publicity as possible.
Well done both of you.
Best wishes
Phil
In a word pikies-plenty of them all over Europe-scum of the earth leave everywhere like s++tholes and drive off in their new Mercs,When i lived in Berkshire nearly every night rubbish was dumped in the quiet lanes around the nature reserve,Even over here in posh SWwitzerland they are around,But its not only them,Lake Geneva had over 100 tonnes of rubbish removed from it last year,There is a nature reserve at one end where the grebes breed and nest and if you go up there now there is tonnes of rubbish caused by people on there posh boats throwing stuff over the side-Image wise i think more DOF is needed for front to back sharpness
Posted by David Taylor on June 21, 2006 at 3:18 PM
Of course you're right to publicise this element of our natural environment; the way it is abused by a certain section of our population. The current debate held at the International Whaling Commission annual talks, about the return to commercial whaling, highlights the conflict between the needs of industrialised society to ultimately make a profit, whilst ostensibly feeding its population, and the need to conserve the populations of these wonderful creatures, I know where my sentiments lie! There is a paradox though, wonderful images of whales etc are probably taken with Japanese camera equipment produced by a
highly advanced industrial society. Are there any fantastic images out there in support of (or not) of continuing the whaling ban? Is there an answer to these problems? I hope so, one
has to remain optimistic.
It is sad how certain citizens treat our countryside, in the s.e. it is hard to drive down a country lane without coming across a pile of rubbish, washing machines, beds, three piece suites etc....
Just wish there was something that could be done about it, our local council even tried to keep one of the household rubbish sites open for 24hrs, didn't do any good at all so the idea was abandoned...
This type of thing make me really mad, Fly tipping makes me annoyed, but the lack of respect and it is all down to that, RESPECT, for wildlife and the countryside which gets me.
My local patch has a small lake with swans etc. I've called the police twice due to "Knobheads" throwing stones at the water fowl and also air rifles. I honestly feel like stoning or using an air rifle on them. Upon finding a cygnet torn up by a dog, i cried, i was so mad.
People in general just dont care and respect the land and the country, i believe that this type of thing should have harder laws, and made a higher priority.
Btw both times i called the police (local number not 999) i was told that nothing would be done as it wasnt important enough.
Discussion
8 repliesWhat's this got to do with "nature photography" some of you ask? Unfortunately
This is how a (fortunately small) section of our citizens see the countryside - a dumping ground for waste and for having fun in. There where the remains of electrical cable, tyres, asbestos sheeting etc etc. Some might think, "oh, it was probably the farmer or the local estate getting rid of rubbish" - but then ask yourself what farmer or keeper would deliberatley kill an entire family of Lapwing? 2 adult lapwing and 4 chicks where also found dead about 20ft from this pile on the access track - presumably shot with an airgun.
I've been finding more and more of this sort of thing in the last couple of years. Sometimes being a wildlife photographer can be a depressing thing
Having now retired from farming to concentrate more on my wildlife photography, I feel I can speak without fear of being biased in any way.
I used to farm between Blackpool and Lytham, an area which is close to 2 large towns but which maintains a rural aspect and has quite a large variety of wildlife. Certainly for the last 10 years, farming has become more beneficial for the wildlife and I have seen an increase in grey partridge and corn bunting numbers, to name but a few. The days of farmers ripping out hedges and using all sorts of chemicals on the land are long gone, so I think that you are right in drawing our attention to other causes of degradation of the countryside by mankind.
On my farm alone, we would receive regular dumps of all kinds of household rubbish, and there is a FREE tip within 3 miles. Many of the countryside road signs are also peppered by shotgun pellets so if the mindless idiots are prepared to abuse them, what do they do if they see any wildlife within shoooting distance?
Yes, I think you are correct in posting your image, just as I think Larry is too, with his dead badger image, in fact I think they both need as much publicity as possible.
Well done both of you.
Best wishes
Phil
highly advanced industrial society. Are there any fantastic images out there in support of (or not) of continuing the whaling ban? Is there an answer to these problems? I hope so, one
has to remain optimistic.
Just wish there was something that could be done about it, our local council even tried to keep one of the household rubbish sites open for 24hrs, didn't do any good at all so the idea was abandoned...
Well done for recording this abuse...
All the best
My local patch has a small lake with swans etc. I've called the police twice due to "Knobheads" throwing stones at the water fowl and also air rifles. I honestly feel like stoning or using an air rifle on them. Upon finding a cygnet torn up by a dog, i cried, i was so mad.
People in general just dont care and respect the land and the country, i believe that this type of thing should have harder laws, and made a higher priority.
Btw both times i called the police (local number not 999) i was told that nothing would be done as it wasnt important enough.
Don't you have a local Police wildlife protection officer?
T
Rene de heer