A photographer from Micklethwaite will be displaying pictures of wildlife on the canal as part of a protest against a development of more than 400 homes.

Ann Miller, 59, who does photography as a hobby, will be displaying the pictures this weekend to protest against planning applications from developers Bellway and Redrow to build a housing estate on land near the canal.

Mrs Miller, who follows the work of the Greenhill Action Group although is not a committee member, said the idea came after she started a photography course a couple of years ago and became interested in taking pictures of wildlife on the canal.

She said: “Last year, I did a study of watching them during the breeding season and this year I decided I would do a proper study on it and watch bird behaviour.

“There’s such a variety of birds down there and people just love them. I would hate to see that site being lost.”

Mrs Miller said the pictures will also be displayed on her website, where visitors will be able to read a piece she has written on Trying To Save Greenhill One Photo At A Time.

She said: “On Saturday and Sunday, I’m putting some of the pictures on the fence down on the towpath just to let people see what they are going to miss and what future generations are going to miss if the site gets developed on.

“It’s just to heighten awareness of what’s there because quite a lot of people aren’t aware of the moorhens, for example, and their behaviour.

“Quite often I think that particular site is the only place where some children get any chance to be close to nature and to be able to watch it up close, especially as everything is getting built up in this area.”

Greenhill Action Group recently held a sponsored walk along the canal towpath to boost a fighting fund against the development.

To view the pictures visit hubpages.com/hub/Trying-to-Save-Greenhill-One-Photo-at-a-Time-Original-Wildfowl-Pictures.

  • Read the full story in Thursday's T&A