London Metropolitan University 2004/2005
Aidan McNeill
Aidan McNeill is a photographic artist who has focused on the environment of the Walthamstow fishery and Thames water in London for the duration of her time on the AA2A scheme. Here she discovered a rich area of land where the idea of pure nature is enjoyed by both Anglers and bird watchers. This man made environment has evolved over time to become the habitat for many varieties of species such as the predominantly coastal bird, the Cormorant, which has moved inland looking for food due to declining fish stocks usually found along the eastern coast of Britain. Conflicts between these birds (coined the ‘black death’ by Anglers) and the fisheries, who wish to preserve their trout stock, has led to debate from Naturalists and Anglers alike about the sensibility and ethics of culling the cormorants to control and retain balance at these ponds.
