I've photographed my home town many many times over the years, so for my 2017 project I've decided to illustrate the urban beauty of the town, especially as there is some major redevelopment going on in the town centre. The town grew up from nothing when the railway came in the 1830s, but 40 years earlier the Basingstoke Canal had been constructed to transport agricultural items such as timber. It was never very successful and it had become derelict by 1900. During the 1970s and 1980s the entire length of the canal was restored, mostly with volunteer labour and today it is used by narrowboats, although there are times when nature is allowed to dominate. Our town centre is squeezed in between the railway and the canal, the latter giving us a valuable green space to enjoy. The building to the right is our art gallery and museum, The Lightbox.