Wetland Diaries: Ranger Life and Rewilding on Wicken Fen

Tucked away in the flat lands of rural East Anglia lies Wicken Fen, loved for its big skies and tiny creatures, boasting over 9,000 recorded species. For 125 years, this wildlife sanctuary has been cared for by the National Trust. A dedicated team look after this precious wetland of international importance, working with herds of free-roaming horses and cattle, weathering the elements to cope creatively with the dramas of a life outdoors at the cutting edge of conservation.

Wetland Diaries is a seasonal account of ranger life on Wicken Fen, restoring a once widespread landscape and the spectrum of emotions experienced. Ajay shares the spirit and atmosphere of the Fens, offering an insight into the privileges and pressures of managing semi-wild animals in one of the country’s first wetland restoration projects, creating precious breathing space for nature and people alike.

Praise for Wetland Diaries
“Ajay’s passion for conservation and his encyclopaedic knowledge of Wicken Fen ooze out of every single page.”
– Iolo Williams, wildlife TV presenter, naturalist, author

“Ajay Tegala’s vivid words and illustrations capture life as a ranger in one of Europe’s most important nature reserves. Wetland Diaries has the pace and energy of a thriller as it reveals the evolving relationships of wetland plants, birds and grazing animals in an age of potentially disastrous climate change.”
– Francis Pryor, archeologist, TV presenter, author of The Fens

“A wonderful celebration of fenland history and wildlife by an inspiring ranger working at the forefront of wetland conservation.”
– Prof Nick Davies, field naturalist and zoologist, author of Cuckoo: Cheating by Nature

“Aloe vera for the soul. I fell willingly headfirst into this glorious volume about the beauties of nature written with all the respect and sensitivity one expects from Ajay.”
– Milly Johnson, award-winning, bestselling author

“A wonderfully evocative account of life as a ranger on one of Britain’s oldest and best-loved nature reserves, packed with delightful stories of the people and wildlife, and written by one of our brightest young naturalists.”
– Stephen Moss, naturalist, bestselling author, TV producer

“In a dizzying, disquieting world, Ajay has the rare gift of remaining quietly steadfast and true to his mission and passion. A wonderful book, and the next best thing to being there oneself.”
– Gillian Burke, wildlife TV presenter

“You had me at the first page – and the wonderful witch’s flour tin – those strange and particular ways into place; brilliant and different! An absolute privilege to have read this; what a job, what experience and knowledge, what a sense of place and belonging you conjure – the love for it all shines off the page like the sun on a reedbed. As varied and vibrant as the mosaic habitat of Wicken Fen itself, Wetland Diaries is lively, fresh and focussed with a dazzling delight that manages to take in everything at once, yet convey the vivid specifics of familiarity with undiminished wonder. This vibrant love letter to the National Trust’s oldest nature reserve, from its people to managing its wetland habitat, wildlife and semi-wild livestock, is illuminating, wry and utterly joyful.  Concerteenering and dipping in and out of history and time, it exudes Ajay’s working, reflective knowledge, exuberance and warmth.”
– Nicola Chester, nature writer, columnist, author of On Gallows Down

“A wonderfully deep dive into a fascinating and important part of the country. The book is full of practical insights and a pleasure to read.”
– Tristan Gooley, award-winning, bestselling author, natural navigator

“Ajay’s deep connection to Wicken and its wildlife shines through in this gentle deep-dive into the soggy, boggy, reed-rustling world of the Fens. Wetland Diaries offers a unique and highly knowledgeable insight into a life dedicated to protecting nature.”
– Leif Bersweden, botanist, author of Where the Wild Flowers Grow

“A deep connection to home, filled with love for place and nature. Ajay’s peaceful, gentle diaries made me smile, taught me lots, and made me keen to visit a very special place myself.”
– Lucy Lapwing (Hodson), wildlife communicator

“A hugely enjoyable behind the scenes look at the reality of a life given over to the restoration of nature. Ajay’s vivid portrayal of his work at Wicken Fen is written with great honesty and humility, bringing one of the UK’s most treasured nature reserves to life in all its tangled, waterlogged glory.”
– Lee Schofield, conservationist, author of Wild Fell

“This is a tantalising glimpse of a bright new future, reminiscent of the past.”
– Hannah Bourne-Taylor, author of Fledgling, wildlife campaigner

“Ajay reminds us eloquently of the crucial importance of nature recovery and of how the lessons learned at Wicken will help nature in wetlands everywhere.”
– Foreword by Dame Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust (2001–2012)

“This book is a gentle unfolding of the life of a ranger in the natural jewel that is Wicken Fen. I truly loved slipping into Ajay’s life as he did his daily rounds across the National Trust’s first nature reserve. His evocative, measured tone holds you as he guides you through tasks both great and small. You are by his side as he cares for livestock, jumps for joy at rare birds, grubs out scrub or says goodbye to old friends as a vet sees them through their final hours. This is a truly lovely read, non-sensational and deeply loving; it comes from a heart that is utterly in tune with the wild-life of the Fen and what it takes to protect it. A book to hold close, a soft down-duvet of a book that will stay by you whenever you need a nature-loving friend.”
– Mary Colwell, environmentalist, multi-award winning producer, author of Curlew Moon

“I had the privilege of writing about the 100th anniversary of Wicken Fen in the National Trust magazine, so I’m delighted to see this new book for the reserve’s 125th anniversary by ranger and wildlife presenter Ajay Tegala. The first National Trust wildlife reserve, internationally important wetland, I really love Wicken and have made a number of TV films there over the years, which is why I’m envious of Ajay working there seeing its delights on a daily basis. It’s his intimate knowledge and experience of the place that makes this a ‘must have’ book on this outstanding wetland. From the original 2 acre purchase Wicken grew to retain existing habitat, and more recently drained Fen that had become farmland has been reclaimed for rewilding. Ajay reveals that management by grazing of semi-wild early horses and cattle is dramatically taking wetland restoration forward.”
– Roger Tabor, biologist, broadcaster, author and president of the British Naturalists’ Association

“Ajay’s love of Wicken Fen and his admiration for the people working to keep it special shines through the pages of this book.”
– David Lindo, The Urban Birder

“Wetland Diaries is a triumph. It’s engaging. It’s educational. It’s entertaining. It is also the kind of book that makes the reader feel as if the world has not gone to Hell in a handcart after all, but rather is filled with a varied and important natural world and wonderful people – like the author –  who care about it. I found Wetland Diaries uplifting, hopeful, witty and warm. I loved it.”
– Linda Hill, book blogger

The Unique Life of a Ranger: Seasons of Change on Blakeney Point

Few people have had the privilege of living on an isolated nature reserve of international importance, their every move judged by countless critics. Young ranger Ajay Tegala, embarking on his placement at Blakeney Point aged just nineteen, would have to stand firm in the face of many challenges to protect the wildlife of one of Britain’s prime nature sites.

In over 120 years, only a select few rangers have devoted their heart and soul to the wildlife of Norfolk’s Blakeney Point. Watching and learning from his predecessors, Ajay faced head-on the challenges of the elements, predators and an ever-interested public. From the excitement of monitoring the growing grey seal population, to the struggles of trying to safeguard nesting birds from a plethora of threats, in The Unique Life of a Ranger, Ajay shares the many emotions of life on the edge of land and sea with honesty and affection. The book has been listed in Country Living magazine’s list of ’10 riveting reads’.

Praise for The Unique Life of a Ranger
“An insight into the important work that rangers do to protect our vulnerable wildlife and habitats.”
– Chris Packham, leading UK naturalist, wildlife TV presenter and author

“This intimate and unique window into a small patch of the British coastline is beautiful written.”
– Megan McCubbin, wildlife TV presenter, conservationist, author

“A charming and vivid window into a dream job for many of us – watching over the wildlife of one of our most important and remote nature reserves.”
– Patrick Barkham, author, natural history writer for The Guardian

“In this enchanting, inspiring book, Ajay warmly invites us into a world few of us truly get to know in any real depth. Tegala writes about his life as a ranger, protecting the wildlife of the mysterious Blakeney Point, with humility, sensitivity, and an infectious and evocative sense of wonder.”
– Zoë Howe, author, broadcaster, musician, artist, Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow

“An authentic, intimate account of the life of one of Britain’s best-loved nature reserves – and the people who care for it.”
– James Lowen, Norfolk naturalist, author of Much Ado About Mothing

“Ajay’s metamorphosis into a wise protector or wild things is as fluid as the shifting sands of the Point itself.”
– Joe Harkness, author of Bird Therapy

“A lively account of life through the seasons on one of Britain’s best nature reserves, by a young man with a real passion for the natural world.”
– Stephen Moss, BAFTA-winning television producer and leading UK nature writer

“I have spent many weeks staying in this magical part of the world and Ajay is able to show us all exactly what makes it just so special – a unique insight.”
– Richard Taylor-Jones, wildlife TV presenter, film maker, cameraman and photographer

“It’s a fascinating insight into the world of a Blakeney Point warden, and the highs and lows that come with such a job. Full of delightful nature observations and peppered with endearing details of daily life at ranger HQ, this is an illuminating read of a life in the wild.”
– BBC Wildlife Magazine

“Blakeney Point is magical. Not only for wildlife, but for lifting your spirits. This book truly captures that magic.”
– Richard Porter, ornithologist and former RSPB head of species conservation

“Ah, Ajay! Top bloke and a natural presenter. What I like about Ajay is, he keeps his day job, real conservation work.”
– Iolo Williams, award-winning naturalist, wildlife TV presenter, writer and conservationist

“Blakeney Point in Norfolk: it’s the largest seal colony in England. A remarkable 40% of the world population of Grey Seals lives around the British Isles; impressive evidence of the richness of our seas.”
– Sir David Attenborough‘s BBC Wild Tales commentary

“There is a very human element to this book. You get to know Tegala’s colleagues through the book too and his genuine friendships with them. It is a privilege to follow Ajay’s story and his career progression demonstrating that you should never give up on something you feel in your bones you are called to do. The book is entertaining, engaging and educating, imparting not only the crucial role of the ranger in conservation but also the joy that can be found from taking on such a role, despite the inevitable blood sweat and tears that come with any worthwhile task. This is not only a fabulous book for those interested in nature, conservation and its stories but also for those wanting to enter a career in conservation. It demonstrates clearly that these are valuable career paths that we should continue to support and in fact elevate in order to redress the imbalance between humans and nature and forge strong meaningful connections with the places in which we live.”
– Dawn Wilson, Rewild Yourself Through Story

Image credit: Mike Selby