Get involved in photography project to help save Devon’s treescapes

Published: 16 March 2023

A photography project to help monitor the effect of ash dieback disease on the landscape in Exeter has been expanded.

People are being encouraged to get involved in the project and start taking photographs.

The project was first launched in 2021 with fixed camera points installed at three locations across the city where ash dieback will have an impact.

In the last few weeks two new points have been installed and organisers now hope they will be used by the public to help profile the city.

Members of the public can take photographs from the fixed posts to capture Exeter’s changing landscape over the coming months and years. The pictures, will help capture changes to the treescape and will help inform decisions about future plantings across the city.

The county-wide exercise is part of the Saving Devon’s Treescapes project, a partnership initiative led by Devon Wildlife Trust to mitigate the loss of trees caused by the deadly ash dieback disease.

Exeter City Council is a project partner and the latest posts have that been installed are at the following locations:

• Newhaven field woodland plantation, canal banks, St David’s (What3words location: rival.upgrading.pillow)
• Lancelot Road woodland plantation, Mincinglake (What3words location: tiger.composers. gown)

The new posts have been installed where ash trees are still visible and new trees have been planted.

There are still posts at the following locations:

• Topsham Rec (What3words location: powder.asleep.lives)
• Eastern Fields, Pinhoe (What3words location: assists.backs.fancy)

All of the posts are mounted with a bracket, allowing people to take a photograph of the landscape with their camera phone and then send it to Saving Devon’s Treescapes.

Photographs all need to be taken in the same way:

• Using a smart phone placed in the bracket
• Photos can be taken in ‘landscape’ or ‘portrait’ mode
• Don’t use the zoom function
• No selfies or people shots
• Email the picture to SaveDevonsTrees@devonwildlifetrust.org In the title of the email include the number in the top left corner of the sign on the post of the fixed camera point

Those on social media can share their photos online using the hashtag #SaveDevonsTrees

Lindsay Mahon, of Saving Devon’s Treescapes, said: “We would like as many people as possible to get involved in this vital project and get snapping. It’s important that people follow the simple instructions above.”

Cllr Amal Ghusain, Lead Councillor for City Management and Environmental Services, said: “With the days getting longer and the clocks about to change, now’s the perfect time to get out and about in our public open spaces and involved in this project. The more people that can take part the better!” 

For more information visit the Saving Devon Treescapes web page at https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/saving-devons-treescapes