School Wildlife Wonder DaysSince my first ‘Wildlife Wonder Day’ at Howe Dell school three years ago, I have led regular Wonder Days in primary schools across the country. A day may include pupils photographing wildlife in the school grounds, producing wildlife inspired art or creative writing and parent/child after school sessions. I have also worked with schools to link with their own themes such as Lion King, Wind In the Willows and recently a Tiger day at Kingswood School in Gloucestershire - take a look at their events. If you are a teacher or parent that might be interested in hosting an event, please do contact me. Here are just some of the comments I’ve had from schools/pupils ‘The photos the children took are stunning! Thank you - there are a lot of VERY impressed people in school, and everyone really enjoyed the day.’ Macaulay School, Clapham Dec’12 ‘Thank you again for the marvellous two days’ Applecroft, Oct’12 ‘Thank you so much for 2 wonderful days. I am amazed at the photographs the children have taken - simply stunning. Outside at lunchtime today I was surrounded by children eager to show me exactly which flower or leaf they had photographed! I very much hope we’ll be able to welcome you back again.’ Head, Belswains ‘Thank you so much for giving us such a wonderful day on Monday. I know from speaking to all the staff concerned it was enjoyed immensely and we all learnt something new and have been inspired to keep on taking photographs in a slightly different way! We so enjoy working with you and look forward to continuing this partnership. A great way to start the new term’ Head Hertingfordbury April 2012 ‘We couldn’t have asked for a more inspiring and creative way to launch our school project, thank you. The well attended parent and child workshop not only led to some fantastic photographs being taken by the children, but was a great way to involve the parents in the learning that was taking place in school.’ The Ridge School, April 2012 ‘Thank you very much for the two days you spent with us. The staff and children thoroughly enjoyed the assembly and working outside observing nature and taking photographs. Their creative artwork and writing was good and the staff are planning further opportunities to work outside, so for me it was a real success!’ Head Woodside March’12 ‘The staff were very complimentary and thought you had a really super way with the children. I have put a blog on our website about the day and there are also some lovely photos. I will definitely be promoting you to all Frome headteachers.’ Head Berkley March’12 ‘A lovely day, all are full of it’ Head, Howe Dell Feb’12 “We are going to put the images into a photo-book to commemorate the day, and I look forward to welcoming you back into school to work with us again” Head, Featherstonewood Jan’12 “Thank you for such a great day. You really did do all that I hoped…sharing your work and fantastic photos and then enabling the children to begin to appreciate some of the wonderful nature under our very noses!” Avening Primary School, Sept ‘11 “a huge thank you for yesterday. It was amazing! The staff and children really enjoyed themselves. We hope you did too!” Wansdyke Primary School June’11 “Iain was very informative and communicated the information clearly and in a way the children could understand” Parent June ‘11 “Everyone without exception has said how much the children enjoyed the three days and how much they have learned about their world and photography.” Hacton Primary School May’11 “We had a fantastic day yesterday, thank you so much. There has been a real buzz around the school today” Hertingfordbury Cowper School May ‘11 “The children and staff had a brilliant time!” Applecroft March ‘11 “they loved it! All down to your teaching of course! Have recommended you to at least two other heads already.” Head, Chirton Primary School June’10 “Thanks for the two days you spent with us. The children thoroughly enjoyed their sessions and the staff are amazed at the photos they produced.’“Science Co-Ordinator, Mary Exton School Oct’10 “Everyone achieved. It was a fantastic day.” Head, Hempsted School June ‘10 “Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge and skills with us. The children have talked so much about working with you. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves and learnt so much. I know it will be one of those ‘wonderdays’ that they remember for years to come” Head “ a great day, which was enjoyed by all in Year 5 and we produced some great pieces of writing as a result” Teacher Year 5 “it made us realise that there is wildlife all around” Pupil Year 6 |
ProfileAt eight years old I wrote my first book ‘Attracting wildlife to your compost heap’ – sadly it was never published! However, those early jottings were the start of my life’s passion for wildlife and since 1997 I have worked as a professional wildlife photographer and author. For much of the past decade I have studied the lives of a small family of wild tigers in India, building a unique portrait (see the Wild Tigers Gallery). My first book ‘Wild Tigers of Bandhavgarh’ was published by Tiger Books in 2002; then in 2007, came the sequel ‘Tiger Jungle’. With a foreword by David Shepherd OBE, ‘Tiger Jungle’ tells the intricate story of these wild tigers and their forest home. (For more details see books.) However, as much as I adore travelling abroad, tackling climate change is now everyone’s responsibility and regularly jetting around the world to photograph endangered animals does not sit comfortably with me. Though I will continue to follow the lives of the tigers, I have made the logical, but difficult decision to greatly reduce my long-haul travel. But far from restricting my work, a focus closer to home means that I can make more detailed studies than were possible overseas. Taking this to the extreme, in 2005 my book ‘Wild London’ was published and quickly received great reviews. Far from just rats and pigeons, Wild London showcases the fascinating diversity of wildlife found within the city – inhabiting ancient woodlands or living in 10 Downing Street. (View some of my favourite images in the Wild London Gallery.) Following the success of Wild London, I am currently working on a number of urban wildlife photography projects. My bullet-point biography
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