NATURAL history expert and TV presenter Chris Packham has been giving pupils at a Hampshire school lessons wildlife photography.

Chris spent several hours at Hampshire Collegiate School on Monday afternoon talking to pupils and parents about wildlife and he gave them tips on how to get good shots of birds, animals, insects and plants.

A school spokesperson said: “Children were enchanted by a presentation in which Chris showed a selection of photographs that ranged from elephants and tigers on safari, to damsel flies which Chris had photographed in his back garden. After the talk the children went into the school grounds to take their own photographs.”

During his visit Chris inspected the school’s outdoor wildlife observation hide.

He told pupils that their subject doesn’t have to be glamorous when taking wildlife pictures but it needs to be close and accessible to them.

Chris had this advice for them “think of taking something at a ‘new’ angle and one that no-one has thought of and look at the whole frame not just the subject to ensure there is nothing distracting.”

He also told them to be critical and think of ways they could make their photograph better.

Chris’s visit was part of the build-up to the school’s Young Art in the Park project run in junction with the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens at Ampfield. And on Sunday, April 26 there is a private viewing of art installation on a woodland trail at the school for parents and relatives that have been involved. Schools taking part include Netley Marsh Infant School, St Michael’s Infant School, Copythorne Infants School, Harrow Way Andover, Romsey Abbey Primary, Wyvern College at Fair Oak and Hampshire