For the last few years, André Neves has generously offered his time and expertise to judge the photography section at the Foxton Village Show. What you may not know is that Andre is himself an highly skilled and award-winning photographer with a specific interest in nature photography, focused on insects and their habitats, often in close-up.

André Neves

Last year, he started a new project in Foxton, photographing the wildflowers of the Dovecot Meadow throughout the year. Andre was kind enough to tell us more about this project and how it highlights issues of maintaining biodiversity and promoting conservation, which starts on our own doorstep.

How did you get into photography?
I started my photography journey in the days of film, when I used to borrow my father’s reliable single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. As many, in those childhood and teenage years, I was mostly taking pictures of my family, our pets and a few of my holiday adventures!

Have you always been interested in photographing nature?
I have always been interested in nature particularly the fragile interactions between species and their environment. Spending the long summer days of my childhood in the great outdoors was incredible! The thrill of looking for new species and observing their behaviours and interactions was always the preferred way of spending my leisure time.

Tell us about macro photography of insects and their habitats, what equipment do you use?
My interest in close-up and macro photography has developed strongly after moving to Foxton over a decade ago and since joining a fantastic local photography club (see link below). A few of the members are incredible subject matter experts and I have learned a lot about local species and their habitats. You really have to be passionate about your subject to develop your photography. This applies in fact to every genre of photography. I currently use a digital SLR with a number of lenses including macro and short range telephoto.

What prompted you to start your seasonal project photographing wild flowers in the Dovecot Meadow?
I am fortunate to live a short walk away from the Dovecot Meadow and so I have been able to witness over the years and over many seasons the great diversity of flora and insects that have made this important small conservation area their home. I am particularly fascinated by wild flowers and their adaptions to seasonal climate variation. Every year is different!

What other areas of the village have you found most rewarding when looking for wildlife subjects?
Having lived in the southern part of the village for many years, I did a project a few years ago on the insect life living in the hedgerows nearby. I was amazed by the variety of species that you can find in such a simple yet incredibly important habitat.

What advice would you give to people wanting to get into, or improve, their photography?
Joining a local photography club has been transformational in my photography journey. In such a friendly environment, you can often find a pool of experts with whom you can learn a lot. You can also find inspiration from other people’s work! Whether it’s nature, portraiture, landscape, travel or even mobile phone photography of any sort (!), there is always someone willing to help you. Many of the events taking place during the summer months are also a great way to get that all important field experience that will take your photography to the next level!

Below are some of André’s recent photos from this project.

In July, in collaboration with the FGA, André will also be running a practical photography workshop in the village focused on the flora and fauna in the Dovecot Meadow. The event will be open to all levels of experience and any camera equipment, including mobile phones, but restricted to 20 participants. The workshop will be held on Sunday 20th July 2025. More details will be posted here very soon in our June newsletter.

You can find out more about André’s photography on his website.

Additional links:

• Melbourn & District Photo Club
• Royal Photographic Society Nature Group
• Royal Horticultural Society – wildflower meadows

Foxton’s ‘Craft & Create’ group are planning a poppy display to hang from the village sign during the Remembrance period in November this year. Volunteers are already busy knitting, crocheting, sewing and sticking hundreds of poppies of many different designs to go into the display. In support of this, Foxton Gardens Association plans to do some complementary planting in that area to accompany the poppies.

‘Craft & Create’ meets on the second Monday of every month in the pavilion at the village hall and is open to all who would like to attend. Everyone is welcome to contribute poppies to the display, whether attending the group or not. Foxton Parish Council has generously awarded £200 to ‘Craft & Create’ towards the cost of materials, so fabric and yarn are available free of charge for anyone who would like to contribute to the project.

If you would like to get involved, please contact Margaret Mead (margaret.mead7[at]hotmail.co.uk) or Linda Smith (linda[at]lindasmith.co.uk) to find out more.

Below are links to some of the patterns that are being used by volunteers, but you are very welcome to follow your own pattern and craft poppies in your own style! Amongst the many traditional red poppies being made to commemorate the sacrifices of those who died, you may also spot some purple poppies which commemorate animals, such as horses, dogs and pigeons, that also served in wartime.

• Niagara Falls Crochet & Knitting patterns (crochet pattern uses US terms) with follow-along videos: Yarnspirations: the Poppy Project
• BBC Radio ‘The Big Poppy Knit’ patterns for knitting and crochet (UK terms): British Legion
• Simple felt sewing pattern: Lore-Green blog
• No-sew crochet pattern (UK terms): Emma Leith
• Rag Rug Poppy: Ragged Life
• Suffolk Puff Poppy sewing instructions: PidgeLee
• Simple version of ‘The Big Poppy Knit’ pattern (pdf)

Feel free to send links to helpful patterns and we can add them here.

Linda, Margaret & Rebecca