North Herts Museum welcomes the Nature in Focus exhibition

PR Date: Friday, 17 September 2021 - 12:00pm

A new exhibition showcasing photographs of local wildlife, plant and landscapes taken by Brian Sawford is opening at North Hertfordshire Museum. The exhibition will start on 18 September and run until 2 January 2022.

It will showcase many of the rare and beautiful wildflowers and endangered birds from North Hertfordshire, as well as the everyday natural beauty of animals and plants we have on our doorstep, reminding us of the rich biodiversity of our district. The exhibition includes a few specimens from the museum’s natural history collection, with a fox, a hare, a black squirrel, a baby roe deer, and a cuckoo.

Brian Sawford was a well-known local naturalist and a gifted photographer, who spent much of his long career working for North Hertfordshire Museum as a Senior Keeper of Natural History at the former Letchworth Museum. He sadly passed away in 2020 and this exhibition has been put together in his memory by his widow Terri and the Letchworth Naturalists together with museum staff.

Brian contributed greatly to the natural history of Hertfordshire through his talks, guided walks and publications. These included The Butterflies of Hertfordshire, Wildflower Habitats of Hertfordshire and wildlife of the Letchworth Area, all illustrated with his own photographs.

Cllr Sam Collins, North Herts Council’s Executive Member for Enterprise, the Arts and Transport, said: “We are honoured to celebrate the life’s work of Brian Sawford who contributed immeasurably to recording and conserving the natural environment in Hertfordshire. This beautiful exhibit highlights the incredible wildlife that surrounds us. I hope it will inspire a new generation of naturalists to appreciate and conserve our local environment.”

To plan your trip to the exhibition, visit the North Herts Museum webpage or call 01462 474554.