Happy grasshopper to help shoppers say 'hello'

Ben said the photo of the smiling grasshopper was his favourite

A photographer from Somerset has been selected to have his work made into greetings cards and sold nationwide in Co-op stores.

Ben Pulletz, 21, from Charlton Adam near Somerton has been a photographer for five years and said it was a "dream come true" to partner with the supermarket in aid of the RSPB charity.

Co-op has ordered six of his wildlife photographs to be made into cards, including his favourite snap of a grasshopper that appears to be smiling.

The convenience store giant will sell the cards in up to 1,000 of its branches and has also donated £10,000 to the RSPB, as part of the collaboration - a charity that is close to Ben's heart.

Ben Pulletz's designs will be on sale across the country

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset, he said it is "actually mind-blowing".

"Sometimes I don't even sleep, I just wake up in the early hours and think 'oh my word, this is just amazing'."

"I wanted to get my work out there and push it far and wide", Ben said, to which end he contacted various retailers.

"I got a good response and here we are a year later launching - it's exciting."

Included in the photos are a doe in a rapeseed field and a great tit in a tree.

Six images have been chosen for the collaboration

Sophie Martin, Co-op’s buyer for greetings cards, said: "I loved the designs straight away."

"We share Ben's passion for nature and the environment, and I am confident that our member-owners and customers will be just as attracted to these delightful designs as we are."

Louisa Skevington, product licensing manager at RSPB, said: "We love Ben's photography, and at the RSPB, we encourage engagement with nature across all age groups, so this partnership is a lovely opportunity to champion Ben’s passion for nature photography.

"We particularly like how Ben’s images capture the UK's flora, mammals and insects as well as birds, reflecting the breadth of nature looked after by the RSPB."

The cards are on sale from today.