Heritage Fund-supported photography project celebrates the rich heritage of our region’s protected areas

Little Horkesley

Ten fixed-point photography posts have been installed in Suffolk and Essex’s protected landscapes to celebrate the area’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.

The posts are part of a new project launched by Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) called, Landscape Lens. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project not only aims to celebrate the AONB turning 50 years old, but also has important environmental purposes.

Each post has been placed at locations where natural or human activities cause landscapes to change over time. For example, nature reserves or areas that are under high pressure from visitors.

Many of the region’s leading environmental organisations are taking part in the project, with posts located at ten different locations including Polstead, Little Horkesley, Arger Fen and Nayland. Each will show of a different feature of the area that is so synonymous with Constable Country.

To get involved all you need to do is: 

  1. Visit one of the locations. 
  2. Place your smart phone in the metal cradle on top of the wooden post. 
  3. Take a picture. 
  4. Follow the instructions on the post to upload your photo. 

A map of all ten Landscape Lens locations and galleries of pictures uploaded by members of the public so far can viewed at https://landscapelens.dedhamvalestourvalley.org/.

Polstead

The AONB hope that the photography posts will not only help people connect with these vibrant and historic landscapes, but also monitor visual changes in habitats and natural features over time.

By monitoring photos taken by the public, the AONB and their conservation partners can keep track of any issues that need addressing, such as severe coastal erosion, invasive species, tourism pressure, litter, or vandalism.

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