Ajay Tegala

Ajay Tegala
Born (1989-08-03) 3 August 1989
Chertsey, Surrey, England
Alma mater
Years active2012–present
RelativesAshley Dodd (second cousin)
Websiteajaytegala.co.uk

Ajay Haywood Tegala (born 3 August 1989) is an English wildlife conservationist, presenter and author. He is known for his work as a National Trust ranger on Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire and Blakeney Point, Norfolk.[1][2]

Early life

Ajay was born in Chertsey, Surrey to scientist Beverley and teacher TT[2]. He grew up in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire. Ajay attended the Deepings School.[3] He graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental Conservation and Countryside Management from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in 2011.[4][5] He received the 2021 Outstanding Alumni Award from his alma mater.[6]

Career

At the age of fifteen, Ajay volunteered with the National Trust on Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve,[7] inspiring him to pursue a career in nature conservation. During his degree, he did a work placement on Blakeney Point.[4] After graduating and a seasonal stint on Lindisfarne, he returned to both locations as a ranger.[7][2] He secured the position on Blakeney Point in 2013, which he held until relocating to Wicken Fen in 2018.[8]

Ajay presented the 2020 BBC science documentary Inside the Bat Cave alongside Lucy Cooke.[9][10]

In 2021, he joined the team of the BBC Two programme Springwatch. This included creating and presenting a short film about the common crane in East Anglia for the programme.[11] His debut book The Unique Life of a Ranger: Seasons of Change on Blakeney Point was published in 2022, which recounts his experiences as a coastal ranger.[12][13]

Ajay collaborated with writer and broadcaster Zoë Howe on a project titled Witching the Wild Year. Themed around nature, folklore and the changing seasons, Witching the Wild Year began as a live show touring theatres and art centres around England in 2024.[14][15] Also in 2024, Tegala's second book Wetland Diaries: Ranger Life and Rewilding on Wicken Fen, about his experiences as a fenland ranger, was published.[16][17] Wetland Diaries was a Rewilding Britain pick for World Book Day 2025.[18] In 2024, Ajay became an ambassador for both Birda[19] and Green Jobs for Nature[20] and also for Butterfly Conservation[21] the following year.

In 2025, Ajay began co-hosting the National Trust's nature podcast Wild Tales with ranger Rosie Holdsworth.[22] Wild Tales became FeedSpot's #1 UK outdoor podcast of 2025[23] and won silver for the Changemaker Award at Audio UK's Audio Production Awards (APAs).[24] Ajay was awarded the Freedom of the Parish of Deeping St James in April 2025.[25]

Ajay and Zoë Howe are currently developing Witching the Wild Year into a book, to be published by The History Press in 2027.[26]

Books

  • The Unique Life of a Ranger: Seasons of Change on Blakeney Point (2022) ISBN 978-1-80399-029-3
  • Wetland Diaries: Ranger Life and Rewilding on Wicken Fen (2024) ISBN 978-1-80399-348-5

References

  1. ^ West, Robby (21 July 2025). "Springwatch's Ajay Tegala backs Big Butterfly Count". BBC News. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Briggs, Stacia (9 October 2022). "Ajay Tegala: The man who lived in the most isolated part of Norfolk". Norwich Evening News. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. ^ Baker, John (22 October 2020). "Conservationist's TV show will take us Inside the Bat Cave". Peterborough Matters. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Ajay Tegala". Nottingham Trent University. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Straight to the point". North Norfolk Living. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Outstanding Alumni Awards". Nottingham Trent University. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Get to know Ajay Tegala". Cotswold Door. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  8. ^ "The remarkable story of a local ranger". KL Magazine. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Ajay Tegala". BBC Wildlife Magazine. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  10. ^ "Wicken Fen conservationist to host BBC Two documentary Into The Batcave ahead of Halloween". Cambridge Independent. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  11. ^ Brackley, Paul (25 May 2021). "BBC Springwatch 2021: Wicken Fen ranger Ajay Tegala joins the team". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  12. ^ Shersby, Megan (9 August 2022). "Blakeney Point: Ajay Tegala on the life of a ranger". BBC Wildlife Magazine. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Wicken Fen ranger tells unique stories of conservation in new book". Cambridge Independent. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  14. ^ Redwood, Francis (25 September 2025). "Ajay Tegala and Zoë Howe to host event at Kirk Theatre, York". The Press. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Witching the Wild Year With Ajay Tegala and Zoë Howe". All Electric Productions. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  16. ^ Avery, Mark (25 February 2024). "Sunday book review – Wetland Diaries by Ajay Tegala". Mark Avery: Standing Up for Nature. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  17. ^ lindasbookbag (2024-05-14). "Wetland Diaries by Ajay Tegala". Linda's Book Bag. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  18. ^ "Celebrate World Book Day the wild way". Rewilding Britain. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  19. ^ Cunningham, Sarah (25 September 2024). "Ajay Tegala Takes on Birda Ambassador Role". Birda. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  20. ^ Heppenstall, Brian (8 August 2024). "The future of Green Jobs for Nature – Increasing Skills, Capacity and Diversity". CJS. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  21. ^ "An interview with Butterfly Conservation ambassador Ajay Tegala". Butterfly Conservation. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  22. ^ "Wild Tales nature podcast". National Trust. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  23. ^ "25 Best UK Outdoor Podcasts". FeedSpot. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  24. ^ "Winners announced for the APAs from AudioUK 2025 | Audio UK". Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  25. ^ Baillie, Maddy (7 May 2025). "Wildlife presenter Ajay Tegala presented Freedom of the Parish of Deeping St James". Lincs Online. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  26. ^ "Zoë Howe". Royal Literary Fund. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
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