by Simon Knight
The reserve has given me a lot over the past few years.
During Lockdown, It got me back in touch with nature and it got me back into photography and I owe it for that. One way I pay the reserve back for what it has given me is by volunteering with the Friends, but due to work, I can’t always be there on a Wednesday. So another way I would like to help is by donating some of the proceeds from the sales of my 2024 calendar to the Friends.
Any money raised will go towards tools that the Friends need, any training requirements for the Friends and anywhere the Friends see fit to spend it on the reserve.
Choosing the images for the calendar was a time-consuming process. I deliberated over whether to include landscape images of the reserve or images of the reserve’s wildlife. In the end I decided to go with only the wildlife that I have photographed in the reserve, except for the cover.
One of the reasons I decided to focus solely on wildlife is that in conversations I have had with many people that use the reserve, they don’t realise that the wildlife is there. And given how popular the reserve is becoming, I feel that it is vitally important to draw as much attention as possible to the precious wildlife that calls the reserve its home.
Another reason for focusing on the wildlife is to try to highlight the fact that the place is not a park, it is, as recognised by Wiltshire Council and Natural England, a Nature Reserve.
Some of the species that I have included will have hopefully been seen by many reserve users. Robins are hard to miss, especially in winter. And during summer, the stunning peacock butterfly is easy to spot as it feeds on nectar rich flowers. Some species, like the tiny wren are often easier to hear rather than spot. You have to actively search for the wasp spider as it hides amongst the long grass in the reserve. And some species like the kingfisher that adorns October’s page, you simply have to be lucky to spot, as I was on a dull afternoon as it perched in the willows around the pond.
Keeping things local, I have Thumbnail Media in Southwick printing the calendars for me. Thumbnail Media is a family business run by Keith and Amanda and they focus on supporting artists for their printing, design and promotional requirements.
The calendars are spiral bound and A4 in size when closed. When open, you will have a lovely wildlife image on the top page, with the bottom page showing the days of the month, with room to make notes on each day.
I hope you all value the reserve as much as I do and can spare some money to purchase a calendar or two. We will announce how much money the calendar sales raise for the Friends on this website in the new year.
Payment is made securely through the shop on my website via PayPal. Please click the link to be taken to my website – https://www.simonknightphotography.com/
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 
What a good idea! Barbara Johnson