As tempting as it is to share everything in one go, I’ve decided to reveal the story in stages to both avoid information overload and, dare I say, to build a little anticipation along the way! These updates will be shared over the coming weeks and months, and I’d love for you to be part of the journey - and to hear your thoughts - from start to finish, right up to the moment the books arrive and begin making their way out to you!
Kent's inspiring wilderness
Personal connection
Many of you will already know of my long-standing connection - 'love affair' if you will - with this remarkable reserve. It was here, in 1980, at the tender age of 10, on a cold, grey December afternoon, that I had my first birdwatching experience, and although, thereafter, I would visit intermittently, it wasn't until I passed my driving test some eight years later that with camera in hand, i was finally able to fully appreciate, immerse and explore its coastline, fleets, pools and marshes.
I suppose you could say I was fortunate. I had wonderful parents who nurtured and encouraged my love of nature and photography, and for more than twenty years, Ted Coleman - my dear friend and mentor until his passing in 2004 - was not only an exceptional naturalist and photographer, but also a close friend of Elmley's owner, Philip Merricks.
The reserve was a much quieter place then, with just a handful of hardy birdwatchers visiting each day. Ted had virtually carte blanche to roam wherever he pleased, whether on foot or in his vehicle, and I would often accompany him, helping to set up hides for photographing nesting birds and wader roosts. Looking at how popular Elmley is today - and rightly so - it's remarkable to think back to those quieter times, when we could work from small wooden and canvas hides beside the access track, overlooking a muddy scrape or a pipit's nest.
Sunken wader-hide (2010) and Ted exiting our 2-person hide on the Brickfields (1989)
For the next 35 years, in all weathers and seasons, I returned - sometimes with Ted, though more often alone - to photograph Elmley's landscapes and wildlife. Philip, along with the various farm managers and wardens, placed great trust in me, and such were my frequent visits, I suppose I became something of a fixture. To have been the only photographer with almost unrestricted access, at any hour, for all those years has been - and remains - a profound privilege, one for which I am deeply grateful.
Countryfile
In 2018, I was approached by Countryfile and asked to take part in a piece they were doing on Elmley.
What the ELMLEY book will offer
A life’s work devoted to the landscape and wildlife of Elmley
Scores of previously unseen images
Editorial and design craftsmanship from world‑leading specialists
Exquisite printing and binding in Italy, produced to the very highest standard
Your support
Needless to say, an undertaking of this scale doesn’t come cheaply. From the outset, I made it clear to everyone involved that no corners were to be cut - Elmley, after all, deserves nothing less than the very best! To make this possible, I’m asking for your support. While Kickstarter remains a viable option, I would far rather offer you the opportunity to support this publication directly from the beginning.
By supporting the project, you’ll not only secure your copy of ELMLEY - including access to special editions at a pre‑launch discounted price - but you’ll also have your name included on a specially printed Elmley Supporters’ Page, acknowledging those who helped bring this book to life.
Details on how you can support this publication will be shared as soon as the layout and printing schedule are confirmed.
Trepidations aside, these are incredibly exciting times, and I can’t wait to take the next steps with you!
JUST 1000 COPIES!
Not all copies will be signed, but as Friends of Elmley, you’ll receive exclusive Early Bird pricing on pre‑orders, including beautifully presented, personalised editions, each inscribed with a bespoke message and accompanied by a curated selection of premium bonus gifts.
“The result of thousands of hours and tens of thousands of transparencies and digital files, this book will stand as my legacy to a remarkable and internationally significant nature reserve. A love letter, if you will. When I am long gone, I hope it will show others not only what this place has meant to me - and to so many others - but also why this unique landscape is worth treasuring and preserving. There is, quite simply, nowhere else like Elmley.”
