During the pandemic I sought places to walk which were less crowded, near to home and at least partly unexplored by myself. I decided to walk, as far as it was possible, both sides of the Humber Estuary starting on the North Bank at Faxfleet where the River Ouse moves into the Humber and later at Alkborough Flats where the Trent joins the Ouse as both rivers move towards the North Sea. It is sobering to consider that 20% of all the rainwater that falls on England is carried out to the sea through this one channel as it drains from North Yorkshire and the Dales, The Pennines and the peak District as well as the Wolds in both East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

I was aware of the importance of the estuary, both as an economic hub and an important part of our ecology. The more recent developments towards huge North Sea windfarms as we move towards less dependency on gas and oil (given more urgency by war in Europe), our desire to improve the ecology of the area and the imminent flood risk which could overwhelm huge swathes of the lower lying land, including the City of Hull itself, were all noteworthy and I found out much more as I walked the boundaries of the area and made links to The Deep (which champions much of the research carried out in the area) and Risky Cities at Hull University, an initiative to increase public awareness of flood risks in the area.

Newly planted areas of seagrass at Spurn can deal more efficiently with CO2 emissions than forests and larger areas will improve help aspect of global warming. Newly planted oyster beds, also at Spurn, can help revive and older economy. Nurturing the environment at Donna Nook at the edge of the North Sea will help the largest breeding ground for grey seals to continue to thrive. The wildlife sanctuaries at places such as Kilnsea and Far Ings give both relief to migrating birds but also encourage many other species to thrive and increase. The areas of saltmarsh provide the right environment and nutrition for both fish, shellfish and worms but birds too as well as binding the edges of tidal land and preventing erosion.

There are areas for play too with Cleethorpes providing a wonderful seaside area which reminds us of the importance of the area to the industrial heartlands in West Yorkshire.

For a photographer one of the most striking features however are the huge skies, the dome of ever changing weather and light which is exaggerated by the flatness of the land. This is a gift that changes so often as the days and seasons wear on and the storms pass over as the light is reflected off the tides below. It makes photographing especially easy.

The original exhibition of photographs and information boards was held at The Ropewalk Gallery in Barton-on-Humber and I am grateful to them for their generosity and help in mounting the show between January and March 2023. The photographs on this page are a small selection from the totality taken and small even in comparison to the exhibition. It is lovely that I have just been invited to show Estuary again during the Humber Eco Festival in Hull during October/November 2023. More news on dates and venue in due course...

The show was accompanied by a publication of fifteen signed and number guides to the show. Four of these currently remain and are on sale at £25.00 plus post and package. Message me through the website if you are interested.