Walk on the Wild Side

West Sussex, 18 to 21 July

We have just returned from a long weekend in West Sussex, which was centred around a photography shoot at the British Wildlife Centre at Lingfield, organised by Experience Seminars (Canon specialists).

http://www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk/

Our journey south was uneventful, but we did pity the thousands of poor souls who were trapped in a huge jam on the M25 in the opposite direction in the blazing heat. The National Trust conveniently provided a lunch stop at Ightam Mote. “A picture-perfect, timber-framed house, sitting on its own little island surrounded by water.” Another property requiring a second, longer visit, perhaps to see the ancient bluebell woodland.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote/things-to-see-and-do/

We stayed at the Camping and Caravanning Club Site in Crowborough, which we had visited before, albeit twenty odd years ago in a trailer tent! The site was up to the usual CCC standard, although the shop was only open for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon, which was a source of disappointment at the time I wanted to buy an ice cream!

On arriving at the British Wildlife Centre on Friday it was a nice surprise to find that the venue was closed to the public, so the twelve photographers in our group plus Brian from Experience Seminars had the place to ourselves, apart from a few staff. As we moved around the various enclosures, the assistant who was accompanying us would provide appropriate titbits for the animals to tempt them out to be photographed. It was a scorching hot day and they were somewhat reluctant at times, preferring to hide in the cooler shade. Nonetheless we saw red squirrels, foxes, barn and tawny owls, stoats, weasels, otters, badgers, marsh frogs, Scottish wildcats, a polecat and deer, all at very close quarters as we were allowed inside many of the enclosures. John did not get off to a good start when his telephoto lens suddenly “died”; the advantage of being part of the Experience Seminars group was that Brian had a selection of lenses which could be tried out, so John was able to borrow one of these (a professional lens) and is currently trying to

convince me that he needs one of his own! It was an enjoyable experience and we have hundreds of photographs to wade through, but we both came away feeling that wildlife photography is probably not our forte, lacking the patience and dedicated lenses to get the really good shots you dream of.  

The weekend also gave us the opportunity to see our friends Richard and Marion from Battle. Another National Trust property, Sheffield Park Gardens, provided a meeting point and restaurant, and it was lovely to catch up with all their news in such pleasant surroundings, even if the good weather did a nose-dive.

Sheffield Park Gardens is a "magnificent informal landscape garden which was laid out in the 18th century by 'Capability' Brown".  Four lakes form the centrepiece.  As we walked around, it was interesting to read about the regeneration work which was taking place.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffield-park-and-garden/

We departed early on Sunday morning to avoid the heat of the day and holiday traffic.