Photographing trees, especially in a protected environment such as Bushy Park, involves more than just capturing images. The Woodland Trust has produced a set of fieldwork guidelines that were written for those recording entries for the Ancient Tree Inventory. These can be applied for my current and future projects when planning and carrying out photography when focusing on trees.
Woodland Trust Fieldwork Guidelines – tips to stay safe
- Get the landowners permission
- As for permission from the landowner if you wish to record a tree on private land
- Wear the right clothing and footwear
- Check the weather forecast before going out and consider packing extra layers or waterproofs.
- Wear suitable footwear – sturdy boots, with good ankle support and grip
- Take some extras such as a bottle of water, small first aid kit or sunblock in summer
- Be aware of rough ground and look out for roots, rabbit holes and brambles that might trip you
- Don’t attempt to traverse terrain unless you feel it’s safe to do so
- Pair up or make sure someone knows where you are
- Carry a charged mobile phone if possible, but bear in mind that in some areas the signal is weak
- Make sure someone knows where you’re going and when to expect you back
- Make sure they know what to do if they can’t contact you
- Trees can be dangerous
- Take care around low, broken or hanging branches. If necessary record from a safe distance and avoid photographing trees in high winds
- If weather conditions deteriorate, consider finishing early
- Be aware of livestock
- Check agricultural pasture for livestock before entering
- If approached by cattle, remain calm and quiet, if cattle become aggressive or spooked leave the field by the nearest means of escape
- In the event of cattle attacking a dog, release the lead and move away – a dog is usually more agile than a person and will most likely be fine
- Don’t enter pasture that contains a dairy breed of bull – if in doubt seek advice from the site manager or contact the farmer or grazier
- Never approach cattle nursing calves
- Take care around wildlife
- Don’t approach deer during rut
- Keep at least 50 meters distance from deer at all times (as recommended by The Royal Parks)
- Avoid bee or wasp nests
- Use insect repellent as necessary
- If spotted, don’t approach adders or other snakes
- Don’t approach deer during rut
- Biological hazards
- Cover any cuts or scrapes with a waterproof dressing before going out
- Avoid getting river, canal, pond or stream water in mouths or cuts
- If contact occurs clean and rinse as soon as possible
- If, after contact with water, flu like conditions occur seek medical advice immediately
- Ticks are most active between May and October in areas of tall vegetation such as grass or bracken especially those populated by deer
- Avoid tick bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers
tucked into socks - Inspect skin for ticks at the end of the day, including your head, neck and skin folds (armpits, groin, and waistband)
- Remove ticks using a tick removal tool
- Check that pets don’t bring ticks home in their fur
- If you feel ill following a tick bite immediately consult your doctor
- Don’t eat berries or fungi unless you are 100% confident of their identity
- Bushy Park doesn’t allow anyone to remove or take home any vegetation, including horse chestnuts and fungi
- Wash hands thoroughly on your return home
- Avoid contact with prickly or stinging plants and toxic hairy caterpillars, which can irritate skin
- Stay safe near water
- Take notice of warning signs
- Supervise children closely
- Never get close to deep or fast flowing water if you’re alone
- Look after the environment
- Avoid disturbing any wildlife
- Clean your footwear thoroughly
- Take your litter home with you
Finally, I have two of my own golden rules when photographing trees or any other subjects within a natural environment:
- Don’t rearrange or touch anything
- Leave it as you find it
Reference:
Ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk. 2020. [online] Available at: <https://ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/1075/fieldwork-guidelines-tips-to-stay-safe.pdf> [Accessed 27 October 2020].
Jennie Meadows MA Photography 