New photography exhibition at Mansfield library will zoom in on Sherwood Forest’s micro-inhabitants

The Sherwood Forest Up Close exhibition showcases the spectacular images of natural history photographer Alex Hyde.

The exhibition, delivered as part of the Miner2Major project, provides an insight into the smaller, often hidden species that live in Sherwood Forest.

Alex has visited sites around the area such as the RSPB Sherwood Forest nature reserve, Clipstone’s Vicar Water County Park, Spa Ponds nature reserve in Forest Town, Mansfield’s Ransom Wood and Rainworth Heath, to capture the species in action.

Alex’s work involves using specialised equipment and various macro and microscope lenses to photograph subjects that can be smaller than a grain of rice – and the resulting photographs have been gathered for the exhibition.

Alex said: “I first developed an interest in photography as a means of getting closer to the natural world.

“When composing a scene of an insect or spider through my macro lens, I am always struck with a sense of discovery.

“To this day I delight in revealing tiny details of subjects that would be missed by the naked eye.

“Nature provides me with an endless array of fascinating subjects and I am confident that I will never tire of photographing them.”

Steve Little, scheme manager of Miner2Major, said: “Alex’s photographs are breathtaking, shining a spotlight on some the fascinating and important species that we live alongside and rarely get to see.”

The exhibition will be at Mansfield Library until August 10.