Dumfries and Galloway farmer and renowned wildlife photographer Gordon Rae is to be among a stellar cast of speakers at the new Wild Film Festival Scotland which will be held in Dumfries in March.

The theme of the festival, held from March 24-26, will be 'Amazing journeys, Wild places and Rewilding' which will be celebrated through outstanding film, photography and discussion.

Gordon is no stranger to public talks, and he plans on taking the audience on a photography tour from his back garden in Lockerbie, over to the west coast of Scotland, across to the isles, then up to the Highlands, before tracking his photographic adventures in Alaska and the Canadian tundra capturing images of grizzly bears and polar bears.

Gordon is the outgoing president of the Dumfries Camera Club, an award winning club in photography circles, he conducts photography tours and courses and is invited to give talks about his photography career at many events.

While much of Gordon’s photography is in his native south-west Scotland, where he is among the privileged few to get pictures of the increasingly rare black grouse, he also leads expeditions to the Highlands and Islands.

Gordon will be appearing alongside the likes of Big Cat Diaries star Simon King and Iolo Williams from Springwatch, during a weekend dedicated to the best of wildlife film, photography and topical talks.

Iolo, who will be appearing on Saturday, March 25, said: “Having a new festival devoted to the best wildlife film and photography, and with lots of live discussion, is a brilliant idea and I’m really looking forward to being there.

“There is some truly amazing work being produced in this country and all around the world right now. And Dumfries and Galloway is an incredibly beautiful part of Scotland, with an abundance of wildlife. With all that going on, I’m sure it’ll be hugely popular.”

Iolo’s talk, A career in and out of the media, will cover his early days as RSPB species officer for Wales as well as his adventures snorkeling with sperm whales in the Azores, following in Attenborough's footsteps to film mountain gorillas in Uganda and diving with gannets off Bass Rock for Springwatch.

Photography and farming

As much as photography plays a large part in Gordon's life, he is also a third generation farmer, running the family’s Muirhead Farm, outside Lockerbie, as well as another near Ecclefechan.

The 330 acres worked by him and his son Callum are largely devoted to sheep, with some grain and turnips for fodder. They also operate a wintering B&B system for other farmers’ cattle.

Gordon grew up with a love of wildlife as well as farm animals and has long enjoyed taking pictures of what he sees in order to preserve special moments.

Photography was a hobby that thrived, and for which he has become nationally renowned, winning awards for his pictures and regularly being invited to give talks and judge top level competitions. What started as some freelance work, grew into a wildlife photography obsession after the purchase of a longer lens for capturing wildlife, and he has been hooked every since.

Also, he has always ensured that there is space for nature on his land, leaving areas of rough land where birds, plants, animals and insects can flourish.

His land now has a healthy balance with populations of hares, foxes, buzzards and kestrels, as well as red squirrels and badgers.

This has allowed him to set up hides (including one for red squirrel viewing at the very edge of his land) which people can hire to do their own wildlife photography – with or without special tuition from Gordon himself.

Gordon, like so many other farmers, has had to find ways to diversify to add income to his farming enterprise, and his photography work and tours have been a terrific success.

The inaugural festival is also showcasing the tremendous photographic and film making talent found in Dumfries and Galloway, and highlighting the region’s appeal as somewhere to see spectacular wildlife all year round. Among those bringing their own special expertise and insights to the festival will be:

Keith Kirk – award-winning photographer; Morag Paterson and Ted Leeming – internationally renowned environmental photographers; Jesse Beaman – astrophotographer and dark skies park ranger.

One of the attractions of WFFS will be the British Wildlife Photographer Exhibition which will be hosted at the Gracefield Arts Centre. The films will be shown at the nearby Robert Burns Film Centre. WFFS is also running a Wild Young Film Makers project in collaboration with National Trust for Scotland filmmaker Simon Goodall. This will see young people make their own short films to be screened at the festival.

Ed Forrest, project manager for the Southern Upland Partnership which which has led the partnership of local wildlife groups which set up WFFS, said: “We’ll be taking people on amazing journeys, allowing them to explore wild places and looking at the issues and arguments about restoring landscapes to their natural state and reintroducing extinct species.

“With Iolo Williams, the British Wildlife Photographer Exhibition and everything else we have lined up it’s going to be a really exciting event and we are particularly pleased to be working with Wildscreen to show a variety of truly exceptional films.”

For full details, times, locations and prices.www.wildfilmfestivalscotland.co.uk