CloseEyeOnTheCrane Galleries

AboutCloseEyeOnThe Crane : Welcome to Close Eye On The Crane, an ongoing photo project to present the nature of the River Crane Valley in what I hope is an interesting and slightly unusual way. The River Crane is a tributary of the River Thames and flows through some of the western suburbs of Greater London. All the images in this project are taken around Twickenham, where the Crane flows through a linear park (known as Crane Park) and then some open spaces such as Kneller Gardens, Mereway Nature Park and the Craneford Playing Fields. This is just one very small section of an important green corridor that is carved by the river as it flows from source to the Thames. All the images presented here are taken in an urban environment that has a high level of human use and disturbance. However very few of these images show any indication of this setting. The reason for this omission is not in order to present the Crane artificially as a natural utopia. It should be self-evident from its location that this is far from the case. The purpose of presenting the Crane in this way is rather to emphasise the natural beauty that occurs here. It is sometimes easier to see graffiti and rusting supermarket trolleys than the exquisite beauty of the nature that surrounds us. The galleries are organised on a monthly basis. This is not a static exhibition and the content will change over time, just as the subject matter does. The project is hosted on the smugmug photo sharing website and you are free to download images but I would request notification and credit if you intend to use any of these for other than private purposes. There is also a facility for adding comments to images - I would appreciate any comments or corrections regarding any of the images in the monthly galleries, so feel free to use this. I recommend that you view these images in slideshow mode (selected from the style menu in the top right). You can edit the number of seconds spent on each image (you may need to hold down the backspace key of your keyboard while you input the desired delay). The green spaces along the River Crane are under many different pressures, not the least from occasional planning developments. I hope that by showing the Crane in this way it is possible to widen the appreciation of what we have and what we cannot afford to discard carelessly. For more information about environmental issues in this area I recommend you visit www.force.org.uk or contact London Wildlife Trust. Keep your close eye on the Crane and thanks for visiting. Keith

AboutCloseEyeOnThe Crane

Welcome to Close Eye On The Crane, an ongoing photo project to present ...

Updated: Dec 20, 2005 1:58pm PST

CloseEyeOnJanuary : January may appear to be our bleakest month. It is however a good month to enjoy the subtle shades of algae, moss and lichen, and appreciate the dramatic lighting of a moody winter sky.

CloseEyeOnJanuary

January may appear to be our bleakest month. It is however a good mont ...

Updated: Feb 10, 2008 1:51pm PST

CloseEyeOnFebruary : February seems to be a month of waiting. An amazing variety of unusual buds and early shoots are forming along the Crane and the season of dramatic transformation is getting ready to begin.

CloseEyeOnFebruary

February seems to be a month of waiting. An amazing variety of unusual ...

Updated: Mar 02, 2008 1:09pm PST

CloseEyeOnMarch : March is the month of awakening. Early buds break open throughout the Crane Valley, revealing succulent leaflets and the first splashes of floral colour. Bird song returns to fill the air.

CloseEyeOnMarch

March is the month of awakening. Early buds break open throughout the ...

Updated: Mar 02, 2008 1:08pm PST

CloseEyeOnApril : April is the month that colour makes a full return to the Crane Valley. It is a great month to get out and watch spring grasp the landscape, and seemingly shake it wide awake.

CloseEyeOnApril

April is the month that colour makes a full return to the Crane Valley ...

Updated: May 19, 2007 11:42am PST

CloseEyeOnMay : May is a magnificent month for nature on the Crane. Luxuriant fresh growth is in evidence everywhere, the dawn chorus is in full glorious cry and the coming summer seems eternal.

CloseEyeOnMay

May is a magnificent month for nature on the Crane. Luxuriant fresh gr ...

Updated: Jul 21, 2007 2:40pm PST

CloseEyeOnJune : June is a month that blazes. It is probably the finest month for wild flowers in the Crane Valley. Meadows and verges hum to an abundance of insect life.

CloseEyeOnJune

June is a month that blazes. It is probably the finest month for wild ...

Updated: Jul 22, 2007 2:40pm PST

CloseEyeOnJuly : July is the month where the diversity of life is at its most evident. Many animals and plants have already completed their first breeding cycle and the Crane flora is steadily changing.

CloseEyeOnJuly

July is the month where the diversity of life is at its most evident. ...

Updated: Oct 11, 2007 1:33pm PST

CloseEyeOnAugust : August is the month that marks the height of summer. Yet, while green is still the dominant colour of the Crane, the cycle of life is starting to close for many of the local species.

CloseEyeOnAugust

August is the month that marks the height of summer. Yet, while green ...

Updated: Sep 29, 2007 2:19pm PST

CloseEyeOnSeptember : September is the month of turning. Shorter days spell the end of most new growth and the Crane wildflower show is coming to an end. Insects are declining and many birds are leaving.

CloseEyeOnSeptember

September is the month of turning. Shorter days spell the end of most ...

Updated: Sep 29, 2007 2:13pm PST

CloseEyeOnOctober : October is the month of reflection but the memories of summer still vividly remain. The likes of lilac, white, azure and emerald are slipping by. Welcome to ochre, gold, peach and chestnut.

CloseEyeOnOctober

October is the month of reflection but the memories of summer still vi ...

Updated: Oct 20, 2007 2:05pm PST

CloseEyeOnNovember : November seems like a lost month in limbo. Autumnal leaves still cling to trees but few plants remain in flower. The Crane falls quiet and awaits the onset of the coldest corner of the year.

CloseEyeOnNovember

November seems like a lost month in limbo. Autumnal leaves still cling ...

Updated: Jan 15, 2008 1:37pm PST

CloseEyeOnDecember : December is often our crispest month. The first sugary frosts grip the Crane Valley and life beds down to see the winter through. Our year comes to an end, but the new one has already begun.

CloseEyeOnDecember

December is often our crispest month. The first sugary frosts grip the ...

Updated: Dec 17, 2005 10:24am PST