A local photographer has created two 2026 calendars, with all proceeds being donated to a charity that helps reunite children with their families around the world.
Chris Lock has produced calendars featuring scenes from the Wylye Valley and the Nadder Valley, with the proceeds donated to Hope and Homes for Children.
Hope and Homes for Children works to end the institutionalisation of children in orphanages by helping to reintegrate them into family-based care or find new loving family homes. The charity supports families across Eastern Europe, South and Eastern Africa and South Asia.
“I got to know about Hope and Homes for Children when I spent some time volunteering in their office in 2006 and 2007,” said Chris.
“I was inspired by the fantastic work they do, transforming the lives of children.
“As they have always been based in the Wylye Valley, initially at Steeple Langford and now in Wilton, a Wylye Valley calendar seemed a good way of combining my work as a photographer with support for the charity.
“The first calendar was in 2008 and I imagine I thought it would be a one-off project, although there have been a couple of gaps along the way, the 2026 calendar is the 15th edition.”
Since 2008, Chris has sold more than 10,000 calendars, raising over £71,000 for the charity.
“It does get harder each year to come up with new ideas for the calendar and to find new places in the valley to photograph, but that’s all part of the challenge, and I love being out on the hills or in the woods with the camera.
“I’m always grateful to the customers who buy the calendar year after year, and I know that many of them get sent far and wide to friends and family, often overseas. It’s great to know that images of our wonderful Wiltshire landscape are on people’s walls in places like Canada, Australia and Japan!
“I’m also grateful to the retailers who have provided an outlet for the calendars over the years and building up a good working relationship with them has been a rewarding part of the project.”
This year’s Wylye Valley Calendar costs £11.50 and features a mix of village scenes and wider landscapes, Wilton House, and a frosty river scene at Hanging Langford on the cover.
The calendar is available in Warminster from Coates & Parker and from outlets up and down the Wylye Valley and in Wilton.
Both calendars can also be purchased online at www.chrislockphotography.co.uk and from the charity’s online shop at www.hopeandhomes.org.
