The first series of Halcyon River diaries started last night and I thoroughly enjoyed the programme,watching Charlie alongside his wife,Philippa introduce us to the beautiful wildlife that live on the river just outside their home.Charlie is concentrating on a one mile stretch for the programme,with the trails and tribulations of many different species of wildlife that live on this lovely stretch of water played out before the cameras and their aim is to try and inspire people about the wildlife that lives all around them and prove that it can be just as interesting as wildlife anywhere else in the world .
There are 3 more brilliant programmes and for all the latest on the series and to see when the other programmes are on click on their Halcyon River Diaries website/blog,with up to date news on this amazing series where I hope it can inspire the future generations into loving nature that’s all around them.
There is a brilliant book that accompanies this BBC programme,of which I was really proud to have been asked by Charlie to provide some of my Watervoles images and some text regarding one of my Dipper sites,with a great link to my website, where people have got in touch and attended my Dipper Of The Dales and Watervoles Workshops with great success,getting some really nice photographs and lovely views of these two beautiful animals,that are run at several different sites,depending on the time of year within the Derbyshire Peak District.
Below is one of my Watervole images they picked for the book,this Watervole had climbed up the riverbank and started to smell,then eat lthis Dandelion,a really lovely moment for me to have seen and capture as these animals have a real character about them
I wish Charlie and his family all the best with the new programme,with the second programme being on Sunday 23rd of May then the others the following Sundays.
‘Halcyon River Diaries’ is the story of one family’s year living by a West Country river and its written by award-winning wildlife writers and photographers Charlie Hamilton James and Philippa Forrester.The book is their chance to share the passion and to inspire other families to get out there and enjoy our rivers and the wildlife the live in and around them.Charile – ‘We where invited by the BBC to make a series of programmes about a year in the life of a river we love and live beside,this book accompanies the series’
I was contacted by Charile back in January of this year with a view to selling them a few of my images alongside a brief write up on one of my Dipper sites in Derbyshire of which I agreed.I am really proud to have Watervoles,Dipper images /text in this new book,also a link to my website.The book is a great read and has only just come on sale.It follows the life of many animals in and around this river as well as giving great advice on how,where to enjoy wildlife with a few of Charlies fieldcraft skills and techniques thrown in.They both share their love of this place with their 3 boys who feature greatly in the book which is really great to see and very positive.
Charlie has photographed Kingfishers since he was a young boy and the understanding and love he has for these birds is brilliant and evident to see in his breathtaking images of them,he alongside his family view the river as your street,with all the animals on it being your neighbours,where they/we are not just observers but are part of the system and over the period of a year experience life on this beautiful river,following the same group of animal characters as they navigate the seasons,as well as seeing how Philippa and Charlies passion for the river extends into every part of their family life.
This book is to accompany the series ‘Halcyon River Diaries’ which is coming to BBC1 in May,so check the Radio Times for details,there will be 4 episodes to watch the wildlife along this beautiful stretch of river along with lots of information shared in which Charlie describes what he’s filming,where the stories will keep you glued to the TV
Watervoles are my favourite mammal with their enduring character and cuteness, making them a lovely subject to photograph,I run workshops,‘Watervoles’ where you can photograph these little creatures alongside one of my favorite British birds the Dipper,‘Dippers Of The Dales’ which are becoming more and more popular.
Charile and Philippa I wish you well with the book and thank you for asking me to help out where I could .
