Budleigh Past and Present

The common pond skater (Gerris lacustris) Image credit: David Spears David Spears It was a privilege on Saturday 7 February to hear two distinguished experts who are noted for their stunning images of wildlife. David Spears’ talk was entitled ‘Tiny Lives in Rivers and Estuaries.’   A Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society, the Royal Photographic Society and the London Zoological Society, he studied Zoology at the University of East London and Neurobiology at the Open University before pursuing a career in wildlife photography.   He filmed with David Bellamy and David Attenborough before later setting up his own production company, Science Pictures.     A century and a half ago the Budleigh-born scientist and microscopist Henry John Carter FRS, pictured above, settled in retirement at what is now Umbrella Cottage on Fore Street Hill. Part of his retirement was spent identifying creepy crawlies that he found in lo...

The Otter Valley Association and Fairlynch Museum are jointly presenting talks on Saturday 7 February in Budleigh Salterton’s Peter Hall by two distinguished experts who are noted for their stunning images of wildlife. Photographer David Spears' talk is entitled 'Tiny Lives in Rivers and Estuaries.' David filmed with David Bellamy and David Attenborough on a number of projects before later setting up his own production company, Science Pictures.     He uses various imaging tools including high-powered electron microscopes to illustrate the range of organisms that he finds interesting.  Two of his pictures are shown here. He will include brief descriptions of the methodology he uses, but more importantly, show images of organisms which form critical stages in the food chain that sustains the larger and more accessible and familiar animals living in the Otter. Mike Langman, a full-time wildlife illustrator with a passion for birds will presen...