Discover our Area Through The Local Lens: Harriet Radford

Through the Local Lens' is a series celebrating the stunning Forest of Dean and Wye Valley through the eyes of passionate photographers who know this landscape intimately.

Each feature reveals what captures their imagination and draws them back time and again to this remarkable corner of Britain. From hidden gems that locals treasure to the seasonal transformations that make every visit unique, we explore how these artists see and experience the region's beauty.

Through their lenses and stories, discover what makes the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley so special, and perhaps find inspiration for your own photographic journey.

This episode focuses on the talented Harriet Radford and her experience of the area.

What draws you to photography in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley?

The Forest is my heart and my home. Every day, I feel incredibly grateful to live here and for the opportunities it gives me to photograph this breathtaking landscape and its inhabitants.

There is a German word, Waldeinsamkeit. It describes a kind of peaceful solitude found when alone in the woods. Although I enjoy photographing all aspects of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, my real love is disappearing among the trees to capture the hidden narratives of the woodlands. Here, I feel a deep connection to nature, and it is this that keeps drawing me back with my camera.

There is something about this place that feels almost otherworldly, ancient and primal. The landscape is alive and constantly shifting, the light, the weather, the colours, the mood. The abundance of Wildlife in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley adds to that sense of life, from deer moving quietly through the trees to wild boar and birdsong.

The geology is fascinating. Certainly one can’t talk about the Forest without mentioning the scowles, ancient and wild. Irregular hollows and ridges in the limestone shaped by time, erosion and mining, with their exposed rock and moss-covered forms. The rich history and folklore of the area add another layer, giving it a sense of depth that goes beyond what you can see.

I’m trying to capture the story.

Can you share a location that locals might overlook but visitors would love to discover?

Puzzlewood near Coleford is a place that I think everyone should experience at least once, and the perfect place for visitors to the Forest to experience scowles. My personal advice would be to visit during quieter times, so you can really absorb the beauty it has to offer.

I also highly recommend cycling the Peregrine Path from Symonds Yat and into Monmouth. Monmouth was particularly badly affected by flooding during Storm Claudia in November 2025, but is recovering and would certainly appreciate the support of visitors. The route itself is largely off-road and absolutely beautiful on a warm summer’s day, winding its way alongside the River Wye.

If you’d like to extend your ride, and you’re a more confident cyclist who doesn’t mind taking on a few longer sections of road, it’s well worth continuing on to Tintern, with its stunning Gothic abbey. There are a couple more beautiful sections of riverside trail to explore along the way, and once there you can join the The Wye Valley Greenway and ride through the impressive Tidenham Tunnel, when it’s open to the public.

What's your favourite season or time of day to capture this region, and why?

The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is beautiful at any time of year, but undoubtedly, spring and autumn are my favourite seasons to capture this place.

In spring, the woods, hedgerows and riverbanks are bursting with new life. There are places where wild garlic and bluebells carpet the forest floor and spill through the early morning light into mist-draped valleys. Everywhere is alive with birdsong, and tiny wild boar piglets, affectionately known as humbugs, playfully tussle and tumble with each other under the watchful eye of the sounder. Their little squeals are a real treat to the ears.

Autumn brings stunning hues of red, yellow and orange. The trees seem to glow, bathed in golden, sun-soaked evening light. Colourful and interesting species of fungi appear from the earth and cling delicately to trunks like little jewels. The air becomes crisp, and there’s a feeling that’s so hard to describe, something almost mystical and spiritual.

Early mornings and evenings, leading into sunset, often create the most favourable conditions, and some of my favourite photographs have been made during these times.

Tell us about one of your photos from this collection - what's the story behind it?

Presence.

This photograph was taken in the Forest of Dean during a quiet encounter with a female wild boar.

She was with her sounder and humbugs, watchful but not afraid. She knew I was there and announced it with a quiet snort, standing between the trees and gazing in my direction. Their eyesight isn’t the strongest, but their sense of smell is remarkable. There was a calmness to her, a quiet certainty that I posed no threat. I remained still at a respectful distance and a moment later, she settled back down with her piglets.

There is always a sense of caution in these moments, especially with young nearby. I am always mindful of these animals and their space. For me, that is the essence of photographing wildlife here. You never want to disturb them. The intention is always to leave things exactly as you found them, to witness, and then to quietly step away.

The way she looked at me through the trees, half-hidden, felt like staring straight into the wild heart of the forest. Encounters like these are a privilege.

What would you want visitors to feel when they see our area through your lens?

I’d want people to feel a sense of connection, not just to the place, but to something a little deeper within it.

There’s a quiet presence here that’s hard to put into words, something that sits just beneath the surface. Through my photography, I hope people can feel that stillness, that sense of being immersed, rather than simply observing.

I’d love for them to notice the details, the way light moves through the trees, the textures of the rocks and earth, the life that exists in the smallest moments.

More than anything, I hope it leaves people with a sense of curiosity, a feeling that there is always more to discover, and a quiet appreciation for the beauty and depth of this place.

What's changed in the region since you started photographing here?

The landscape feels as though it has been here since the dawn of time, ancient and ever-present, and the general sense of this doesn’t alter. Yet it is continually evolving, reshaping itself and being shaped by the world around it.

Whole areas of woodland have disappeared; it is a working forest, after all. Yet, given time, fresh life springs up in their place. One summer, I returned to an area felled a couple of years earlier to find swathes of foxgloves stretching as far as the eye could see. Where once they had been choked by dense cover overhead, they now thrived. Large new areas of woodland have also been planted, tiny saplings slowly inching their way towards the sky.

There are noticeably more people now, a growing awareness of how special this place is, and a desire to experience it.

If anything, that contrast has made me appreciate it even more. The hidden, quieter places feel all the more special, the moments of stillness a little more precious.

Any photography tips for visitors wanting to capture their own memories here?

Take your time.

It’s not a place that needs to be rushed. Some of the best photographs come when you slow down and really notice what’s around you, and the small details that are easy to miss.

Light makes all the difference. The period just after sunrise and before sunset, often referred to as golden hour, tends to offer the most beautiful conditions, when everything feels softer and more atmospheric. Mist, low cloud, and those in-between conditions can transform even familiar places into something completely different.

Don’t feel like you need to capture everything. Often it’s the quieter moments, a patch of light, a single tree, or something small on the forest floor, that tell the strongest story.

And most importantly, just enjoy being there. If you connect with the place, that will always come through in your photographs.

What local business, attraction, or community spot deserves more attention?

There are so many wonderful local businesses in the area, and I wholeheartedly encourage people to support them.

I’m always a little reluctant to list individual places, as I’d hate to leave anyone out. Being a huge coffee lover and a keen cyclist, I’ll simply mention Greenhill Coffee Roasters and Dean Forest Cycles, but there are so many others. I think the important thing is to shop local.