Living in the Lower Windrush Valley in West Oxfordshire, and retired in 2014, I finally get a chance to explore the wonderful countryside that surrounds me.

Armed with my retirement treat of a rather heavy camera (which I'm assured equates to quality), I've set out to acquaint myself with as many of the native wildflowers I can find both to fulfil a long held ambition and to begin the journey towards taking a passable photograph.

Quietly wandering the tracks inevitably provides many other irresistible photo opportunities from fungi to insects to animals, but my main aim is to record the wildflowers in such a way as to aid identification.

As to good photos. well perhaps a handful so far, but with time and patience I'm hoping the balance will swing from luck towards judgement and there will be more.

Windrush Valley Wildflowers