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About Donna Clifford’s ‘Preston in Lockdown Project’

Donna Clifford’s ‘Preston in Lockdown’ starts on the first day of lockdown with a narrow boat entering the boatyard at the end of the canal. Clifford said she wanted ‘to try continue doing my photography in anyway I could’ and that she sees photography as ‘something that helps my own health and wellbeing too’.

She took one camera out on dog walks along the canal to Haslam Park or Moor Park. Donna says being by the water is something she’s ‘always found very peaceful and calming, I even train on the water up to three times a week with Preston Dragon’s so being near the canal and water was a help in this time [lockdown] when I’m also unable do that’.

For the last 3 years Donna Clifford has photographed the cygnets progress, annually documenting them from nesting up to leaving the parent swans. This year the photos have recieved extra attention with people commenting that it gave such hope in the challenging times for all. Donna comments that ‘the wildlife seemed much more at ease as lockdown went on, herons a lot more visible, ducks relaxing on the towpath’. She tell us that ‘generally people were noticing the wildlife more, I think only having 1 trip out a day means people were taking in as much as possible in their limited time outside and seeing so much more then they had, I’d hoped my images would make people see the nature and wildlife on our doorstep, the swans certainly have had more visitors and people notice them this year, they had a big family of 8 last year but topped that with 9 in 2020 and all 9 have grown fast and are doing fantastically’.

You can see more of Donna Clifford’s Lockdown Project and other photgraphs on her website.

About the Photographer

“My love for photography really started in 1996 when at age 15 I won Kodak competition. By age 19 I had started work as PhotoJournalist on South Yorkshire Newspapers. Then in 2003 I moved to Preston to work for Lancashire Post.

In 2014 I was made redundant along with all the photographers working for Johnston Press. I was 33 at that time and decided to try set up on my own, I now still work as Photojournalist for Lancashire Post but I have been able to start working for Lancashire Life, Cheshire Life, Newquest and many PR companies building up my own freelance business since redundancy.

I’ve been behind camera for 20 years, when I started my photographs were on film in the darkroom and over the years I have adapted to all changes that I’ve encountered and I am proud to still be doing what has always been my passion.”

To see more of Donna’s work check out www.donnacliffordphotography.com.

The Living City project is produced by They Eat Culture, & supported by the Community Lottery Fund & Arts Council England.