The Kingfisher Hide

I’m sitting in the Kingfisher hide watching out over the lake, this is where I feel the most at peace. It’s quiet in the hut there’s a mutual respect amongst everyone that enters, we want to hear the songs of the birds and watch as the world goes by.

Next to me sits two friends they’re painting the scene in front them. Teaching each other how to bring the painting to life. It’s beautiful to overhear, I find myself craving friendships like theirs. Even though they have some self doubt I think their paintings are wonderful, it doesn’t matter whether you’re amazing at art or not, capturing the moment on paper, capturing your perspective, what you see in that very moment is magical.

“It’s all about the experience, having a go”

It’s the perfect summers day, not something we’ve experienced much this year with the drought, but now there’s a slight breeze coming through the windows providing a sense of relief from the sun.

It’s quite dark in the hut, the only light coming from the landscape in front of me, it almost doesn’t look real, like I’m watching it on tv.

There’s an older man with binoculars seeing what he can spot, teaching me the names of the birds and helping me find a moment to capture on my camera.

I love the community this hut brings, the people that sit in here are finding the joy in the nature through all different mediums whether it be art, photography, writing or simply sitting. Maybe they’re showing their children all the different birds and imparting their wisdom so every generation can find the beauty in the world. I feel inspired by the people I meet here.

I sit here and I wonder how I got so lucky to have this so close to me. How even though I live in a city which gets trashed day and night there is still beauty around if you look for it.

All of these photos are taken by me, they’re not my best work but I wanted to share the view. Although they don’t do it justice.

Laura x