I am a retired doctor who has done photography for years, but not taken it seriously until a couple of years ago. I had my first SLR camera (manual everything!) when I was 13, and have always been interested in wildlife and landscape photography. I used to process my own black and white and colour slide film and I still have a fondness for monochrome as I find it can sometimes really enhance the feeling of a shot.

After I retired in 2007, my husband and I bought a woodland. We now own and manage Alvecote Wood - 11 acres of ancient woodland and 9 acres of former arable field into which we planted native woodland, wildlife meadows and ponds in 2010/11. We are managing it as a wildlife site and for use by community groups.

I get a great deal of pleasure out of recording the beauty of nature in our own wildlife site, although I also like visiting other places. I am starting to enjoy setting up specific studio or other shots to meet a visual challenge. However I am not a great fan of portrait photography, or of photographing people in general, except where they add interest to a natural scene. I prefer natural light, but am happy using other types of light if required.

I have been studying a professional photography course for just over 2 years and am enjoying the challenges that brings. My final exhibition was held at the woods in late summer 2012.

My camera is far better than I am, and my greatest challenge is to be worthy of it.

Please see www.alvecotewood.co.uk for more information about out lovely woods.