15 Minutes of Fame

Published: Sussex Wildlife Trust 'Wildlife' September 2010

The South Downs are a stunning, beautiful landscape, rich in natural wonders. I have lived near the Downs for much of my life and am able to trace my family back for several generations in Sussex. Living so close, it is easy to take the South Downs for granted. As a conservation student and an amateur photographer, I not only get the chance to walk explore and enjoy the South Downs, but also, through my photographs, show people a new perspective of the Downs and their wildlife that they may not have experienced before. I have always been interested in wildlife and the world around me, with the ambition from a young age, to work in conservation.

I first became involved with environmental issues at the age of 11, when it was brought to my attention that a local land owner, owning the patch of woodland and re-naturalised railway track opposite my house, had applied for planning permission to build houses/flats on this land. I helped local residents oppose the planning permission at both District Council and Appeal level; succeeding in having the area designated 'Green land'.

In 2007 I spent my Year 10 two week work experience working with the South Downs Joint Committee (Northern Area Office) partaking in such activities as Barn Owl chick ringing, Ragwort pulling, plant surveys, Rights of Way maintenance and public liaisons. Whilst working with them on areas of Iping and Chapel commons, I learnt the value of the rare habitat, Lowland Heath, much needed for such species as Silver Studded Blue Butterflies.

It was shortly after my work experience that I heard on the TV news about proposed changes to the boundaries of the long awaited South Downs National Park; changes which excluded the very areas that I had so recently been working on. I immediately wrote to my local MP and Newspaper, beginning my first letter with: "I was today completely stunned and dismayed to hear of the Government's forthcoming discussions to change the borders of the proposed South Downs National Park...."

This was the beginning of my involvement with the South Downs Campaign, and proved to be the first of many activities such as promotional walks press releases/photo calls, leaflet drops and signature collections. I was even interviewed by the BBC news! I continued to be involved for the following two years until the declaration of the South Downs National Park, including the areas once under threat of exclusion, in the Autumn of 2009.

My greatest honour was to be invited, at the end of the campaign, by chairman Robin Crane CBE to attend, as a guest, the celebratory conference and Champaign party and give a short presentation of my photography and poetry.

It was a real pleasure and great experience to work with such people as Robin Crane (Campaign Chairman) Richard Shaw (Interim Chief Executive South Downs National Park Authority) and Chris Todd (Campaign Officer) during the campaign. No teenager could ask for a more valuable experience. So if you are passionate about a cause, do not be afraid to stand up and be counted; you never know where it may lead.