Savernake Forest in Autumn

This is an on-location workshop for up to six participants, led by Robert Harvey.  Tickets will go on sale on 1st May 2022.

Savernake is an ancient hunting forest near the market town of Marlborough. Established in the 12th century, Savernake is privately owned by the Marquess of Ailesbury and has never been bought or sold.  Although not well-known outside Wiltshire, the forest has one of the highest densities of veteran trees to be found anywhere in Europe. A magnificent beech-lined Grand Avenue runs two miles through the heart of the forest and is exceptional at the peak of autumn colour. The forest is also rich in fungi during autumn.  One could wander for days and indeed weeks in the forest, still discovering new subjects to photograph. The leader will take you directly to the most rewarding locations and provide tuition on composition.

We will photograph veteran oak and beech trees, forest fungi as part of the landscape and (weather permitting) backlit mist on Grand Avenue, along with a nearby tree tunnel. 

If the sky is clear or partly clear, the day will end with a visit to a downland viewpoint of hilltop beech trees near Devizes for sunset.

The workshop has been scheduled to coincide with the expected peak of autumn colour. A particular theme will be using telephoto lenses in woodland to isolate compositions, exclude sky, frame subjects and make subjects bigger in the frame; whilst ensuring sufficient depth of field.

Start in Savernake Forest at 7am and spend most of the day there travelling by car between three different stopping points, from which we will walk up to 1km into the forest. We will be using footpaths and also over some rough ground. It may be muddy in a few places.

Participants will be provided with directions and co-ordinates to each parking place at the beginning of the workshop.  

Event will finish either at Savernake Forest or at Roundway Down car park after sunset (around 5pm).

 The routes to each viewpoint are not wheelchair accessible.

Bring a packed lunch.

DSLR camera or equivalent plus a range of lenses, from wide angle zoom (e.g. 16-35mm on a full frame camera) to short/medium telephoto (e.g. 70-300mm on a full-frame camera).  Standard Zoom lens. Fish eye lens if you have one. Tripod (essential).

Lens hood and rain sleeve in case of wet weather.

Shoes for driving; hiking boots recommended for forest.

Toilet facilities:

Marlborough Town Council - George Lane Toilets Are Open For Business! (marlborough-tc.gov.uk)

www.yell.com/s/public+toilets-the+downs+sn10+devizes.html

Or behind trees in the woods.

Ticket prices for this event include a £2 carbon offsetting charge.  For more information click here.

Covid-19

In the light of recent developments, the latest government guidance and leading industry practice the RPS Landscape Group has adopted the following updated guidelines for events involving meeting in person.

• Before attending one of our workshops or events please take a lateral flow test and do not attend if the result is positive.
• Unless you are medically exempt you are encouraged to be fully vaccinated (i.e. 2 vaccinations, plus a booster if applicable) to attend one of our events. If you are not fully vaccinated (for whatever reason) you must follow rigorous social distancing measures including:
  • maintaining a physical distance of at least 2m from other participants and the event leader whenever possible
  • wearing a face covering whenever it is not possible to maintain such a distance
  • following any other social distancing and infection prevention measures and advice issued by relevant public health authorities.
• You must not attend any event if you have symptoms of covid-19 or have had a positive covid test result within the last 14 days.
• The event leader may ask you to wear a face covering at certain times e.g. while indoors or while any tuition necessarily takes place in close proximity to the tutor or other participants. Unless you are medically exempt you must comply with the event leader’s requests.
• Decisions regarding the implementation of these precautions will be those of the event leader, taking account both of current government guidance or regulations and, if this would lead to a more cautious approach, common sense. The event leader's decision will be final.  If you are not willing to comply with any such instructions, please don't book a place.

You should take out insurance to cover cancellation in the event that you contract Covid-19 and are unable to attend.

Carers and helpers

Any person who has a health condition or disability and needs a carer or helper may bring them along to an RPS Landscape Group event without charge. You must book a carer/helper ticket for your helper.

The carer/helper is there to assist you and will not be given any tuition or be permitted to participate in the photographic discussion. Attendance is free of charge but any out of pocket costs such as meals, transport or accommodation will be borne by the attendee.

Your data

Please note: your personal data (name, email address and telephone number) that you supply when booking an event will be passed to the event / workshop leader in order to enable them to:

• contact you in advance of the event to remind you or notify you of joining instructions (or changes thereto) etc.
• contact you at short notice before or during an event in case of any emergency or last-minute changes (eg because of weather).

By booking this event you are deemed to consent to this transfer of your data.