Red Squirrel Workshop

Available: All year round

Watching and photographing red squirrels is always a delight. They're such characters, rarely sitting still for long, they can be climbing up and down, and leaping between trees, sitting on mossy mounds, logs or branches, burying their nuts or simply nibbling away at a hazelnut.

With their crimped ear tufts in the winter, or pale bushy tails during the summer, they are always photogenic.

Depending on your requirements for the session, Pete will choose a suitable location for the workshop with options for either a deciduous woodland, or a pine forest. The latter has additional features to help capture images of the squirrels as they jump or take a drink at a reflection pool.

In addition to the squirrels, there may be opportunities to photograph woodland birds such as long-tailed tits, treecreepers, jays, sparrowhawks, great-spotted woodpeckers and more.

Fitness Level:

There may be a short walk to one of the locations. Waterproof, warm clothing is a must, as even when sat under cover, it can get cold and the weather may blow in.

This is a full day workshop. It can begin just after dawn, and end at dusk or beyond (see below). This is not a short 2-3 hour session where you're left to do your own thing.

Pete will be with you from start to finish and will be spotting wildlife, putting out the food and any props required, and can bring snacks and a flask of hot drink, or soup if desired.

The woodland site has seen an increase in wildlife over the last year or so. As well as the red squirrels, crested tits, jays, a sparrowhawk, many great spotted woodpeckers and treecreepers have all been seen regularly. There are also numerous voles around that can be amusing to photograph.

The woodland also has decent flocks of crossbills flying around, and they have occasionally been photographed from the hide, as well as on the road nearby!

Depending on the time of year, and if the workshop extended towards dusk, then there is also the possibility of pine martens, badgers, roe deer, foxes, and even brown hares!