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Paul Thompson

Gardener - (Wellesbourne)

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of wildlife on campus, you just need to know where to look.鈥�

鈥淢y passion for wildlife photography started a long time ago. I used to go to Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve to birdwatch with a friend, I found it quite a funny thing to do at first. Unfortunately, he鈥檚 now passed away, but I wanted to carry on in his memory.

I bring my camera into work with me, taking any opportunity to capture wildlife in my breaks. I鈥檝e seen foxes, deer, rabbits, hares, kingfishers, herons and of course the ducks and geese, lots of geese! There鈥檚 a family of foxes near the Gibbet Hill campus, I first spotted them around 14 years ago. They regularly come out of the woodland to say hello, so I like to photograph them as often as possible.

I鈥檝e also been whale watching with Chris Packham round the Bay of Biscay. I managed to get some great pictures, and he encouraged me to share them, he thought they were that good. I鈥檝e had my pictures used on Countryfile, some of which were taken on campus.

Photography takes over my weekends and spare time as well. You鈥檒l always find me with my camera out in the countryside or taking in the scenery sitting on my friend鈥檚 memorial bench at the nature reserve.

I鈥檝e been working as a gardener in the Estates team for 36 years, an office job wasn鈥檛 for me. I enjoy being out in the open air, it鈥檚 great for your wellbeing and mental health. I like watching the landscape change at different times of the day and throughout the year. We鈥檙e lucky to have such clear seasons, all four are different and I enjoy aspects of each one, but winter is the best. Everything quietens down.鈥�