About.

I’m Phil.  In October 2006 I went on a volunteer work week for an organisation called Trees For Life.  I didn’t know it at the time, but this was my first step towards a new life working in conservation.  I came to realise that what I really wanted to do in life was work with nature, and so I decided to make the break from my nice comfy job in IT.  In February 2009 I walked out of the door of the office for the last time (ok, almost the last time, but that doesn’t read quite so dramatically).  In March 2009 I trained to be a Focaliser for Trees For Life, someone who is able to lead their work weeks (conservation holidays).  I also started doing volunteer/residential work for other environmental conservation charities.

This is a site set up for anyone who wants to know what I’m up to.   “This is partly because I’m a rampant egotist” (thanks to Rob Pedley for putting into words what I’d suspected for some time).  Hmm, ok, so if no one else is interested, maybe it’s just here so’s I can see what I’ve been up to in years to come.

If you are visiting and you’re not me then I hope you are inspired by the places I’ve been to, and the things I’ve seen.  A lot of the content is nature based because nature is the most amazing thing.  In almost every way our culture tries to displace nature.  I feel passionately that we must work with nature, not against it.  We must think about the effect we have on nature with everything we do, from turning on a light to owning a pet, shopping, or planting an exotic plant in our gardens.  Nature has spent thousands, even millions, of years working out what’s best.  We wouldn’t be here without a healthy natural world.  We won’t be here without a healthy natural world.

If you have an interest in any of the pictures on the site, or in any of the photos in the albums linked to from the site, and would like full resolution copies, then let me know (if you don’t know my contact details then leave a comment on the site).  Since Christmas 09 I’ve been using a Panasonic DMC-TZ7 compact digital.  Any other shots are taken with my phone.  This site is not meant to be demonstration of photographic genius.  If a picture shows a creature in great detail it’s because I’m up close, not because I have one of those cameras with a lens as long as my arm.  Get close to nature, it’s an amazing buzz.

(But, if anyone wants to sponsor the purchase of one of those cameras with a lens as long as my arm then that would be great!  Anyone?  Anyone…?)