Focus on 'Britain from the air' goes on display

Aerial photographs showing more than 100 landscapes and scenes from around Britain will go on display on a city centre street, the Royal Geographical Society announced today.

From dramatic coastlines and mountains to shopping centres and power stations, Britain from the Air will celebrate the diversity of the scenery on our doorstep, according to the organisers.

It depicts unusual sights such as a heart-shaped wood of hawthorn trees in Oare, Wiltshire, and an earth-raised sculpture of Sultan the Pit Pony in Caerphilly, Wales, as well as symbols of industry and agriculture such as a salmon farm in the Shetland Isles.

The free exhibition in Bath city centre will also feature a giant walk-on Ordnance Survey map measuring 16m by 8m for people to pinpoint the image locations and cover the length and breadth of the country - in virtual terms.

Actor and broadcaster Michael Palin, president of the Royal Geographical Society, will launch the display next Tuesday.

He said: "Our landscapes in Britain tell the stories of our heritage, bring alive the beauty of our environment, and challenge us all to understand the changes taking place in our towns and cities.

"All too often, chasing far-away places, we forget just what beauty we have on our doorstep and just how varied Britain is, even today.

"This exhibition is designed to celebrate this diversity and shows us, very powerfully, just what we're missing down here on the ground.

"The stories of these landscapes are revealed - so visitors can truly explore and discover something new."

The exhibition was created by the Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) and street gallery pioneers Wecommunic8.

Featuring text to tell the story of the aerial images, it will be located in Bath from September 28 until the end of February.

Society director Rita Gardner said: "As people take in this view of Britain as they've never seen it before, we hope it will inspire them to get out and about around the country and see for themselves the wonders of our islands."