A wildlife encounter and hedgehog rescue | Family Storytelling Photography Cambridgeshire
My passion for photography came about at the same time I became passionate for wildlife. Back in the 1990s when I was growing up, I would spend hours watching film and TV documentaries on wildlife, such as The Big Cat Diary, Really Wild Show, Life of Birds and Born Free. I was moved by the nature, intensity and journey that animals had to get through to survive. It fostered my interest in wildlife conservation, but also ignited a fascination with the camera and the power to tell important and meaningful stories through the lens. Once I even dreamt of becoming a wildlife photographer, but realising the incredibly long hours and commitment that would take me away from my family, I knew I had to find other ways to weave these two passions together. Indeed I’ve been fortunate to have experiences that have allowed me to explore these interests.
Kids helping garden wildlife
As a parent, it’s always been important to teach my children about the importance of looking after the environment and giving them the opportunity to discover nature and learn more about wildlife. Often I try to get my family to spend time in the great outdoors, which I have to admit is becoming harder with the kids getting older and being glued to their screens. I have had to prise them away and encourage them to go on walks with us, so they might develop a connection with nature. Inevitably, they would show the initial reluctance, but very quickly those feelings dissipate as they stumble upon an insect, bird or plant they might not have seen before.
With winter approaching and some wild animals soon going into hibernation, we might see more wildlife appearing in our town or gardens. Normally the animals that wait until after dark are harder to spot when the kids are tucked in bed, but with it getting dark earlier now we have a better chance of seeing them. We’ve spotted foxes wandering around on the streets at night and also have been on hedgehog or hog watch, as we’ve noticed one or two visitors to our garden. One of them needed our helping hand recently when we found him out and about in the garden during the middle of the day. Immediately I noticed how thin and lethargic he looked. The kids watched with curiosity as I placed him in a box and took him to a local hedgehog-rescue charity. He needed urgent treatment and after a few weeks of rehabilitation at the hedgehog hostel, he was returned to us so he could be able to rejoin his family or find his own nest.
For the kids and myself, it was a magical experience encountering a hedgehog up close. Seeing the work of volunteers like Heather at the animal charity gave them an insight into wildlife rescue and help them nurture a respect for these creatures which sadly are declining in numbers. I made these photos upon the hedgehog’s return before waiting for night to fall to release him back into the garden.
