Young people in Bristol and Guangzhou connect with nature

A photography project showing nature in all its glory in Bristol and Guangzhou, China, marked the 20th anniversary of sister city status between the two cities.

Inspired by a BBC Countryfile item filmed on Brandon Hill about macro lenses fixed to mobile phones a group of young people went to Brandon Hill and Ashton Court to capture photographs of nature in the heart of the city.

Meanwhile in China a group of young photographers carried out a similar activity in Guangzhou and each group shared their best images and commented on the stunning plants and animals they captured.

Bristol Museum officers gave an in-person workshop to help the young people in Bristol while the BBC Natural History Unit organised for a colleague in Taiwan to provide an online workshop, telling how wildlife documentaries are researched.

Bristol City Council and the Guild of Guardians funded the project, which saw Young Bristol and youth workers Phoebe Sutcliffe and Faye Keene partner with the council's twinning officer and Bristol China Bureau to make the event happen.

Guangzhou International Relations Office and Sujon Zhang found the participating schools and young people in China.

A book of the images, with a forward by Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees and Johnny Keeling, Head of the BBC Natural History Unit, will be presented to Guangzhou as an official anniversary gift.

An exhibition of the images can be seen on the Bristol China Bureau website: www.chinabureau.co.uk/20th-anniversary-photography-exhibition