Preoccupied With Raisins
Wildwood, Sturry, October 2005
It’s been a great week of annual leave, and my parents are visiting, so we took the boys on an outing to Wildwood Forest Park, which is only a couple of miles up the road. Raffy & Monty had a great time - my dad got to do his fair share of giving piggyback rides, and many animals were admired as we walked around the park (apart from baby Milo who was in his pushchair!) I’ve been experimenting with some film photography, using an old Leica M6 rangefinder that I bought second-hand on eBay. It’s a lovely bit of machinery - silky smooth to operate and has been producing some beautiful images. I love this one, of Monty concentrating very hard on his packet of raisins in one of the little wooden huts that are dotted around the park.
The Wildwood Forest Park near Canterbury is perfect for a great family day out. It is set in forty acres of ancient woodland and hosts a collection of over two hundred native British animals in natural enclosures set along twisting trails that take you through the forest. You can see bears, wolves, otters, foxes, deer, badgers, owls, wild horses, lynx, beavers, wild cats, bison, squirrels, wild boar, reindeer and more.
Wildwood is located about halfway between Canterbury and Herne Bay on the A291 Canterbury Road and is easily accessible by bicycle, car or bus. The full address is Wildwood Trust, Wealden Forest Park, Canterbury Road, Herne CT6 7LQ.
On the A291, watch out for the large roadside Wildwood sign (showing a wolf) at the Wealden Forest Business Park between Herne Common and Broad Oak, and follow signs to the entrance. Parking is free, but it can get busy, so best to arrive early during peak periods to avoid struggling to find a space. Dogs are not permitted in the park (including assistance dogs) because of the risk of disease and distress to the animals.
Leica M6 with 50mm Summicron on Kodak BW400CN, Lightroom, Photoshop
