A chickadee in its bath, a robin resting on a branch, a fox, a hedgehog. From this Saturday at the Gardens of the Abbey of Villers-la-Ville, and until June 18, 26 photos from the community “Our extraordinary garden”, program declined from Extraordinary garden since the outbreak of the health crisis, will be exhibited in giant format, namely 180 cm x 120 cm. Snapshots taken by nature and photography lovers. “During the confinement, we mightn’t travel, so we asked viewers to do a show for us in a way! (laughs), says Tanguy Dumortier, presenter of the Extraordinary Garden. “We realized that a Facebook community had been created and that it brought together more than 56,000 members who discussed nature, animals, etc. every day. We wanted to highlight these clichés and their stories in the book Our extraordinary garden appeared last September and now in an outdoor exhibition.“
Those who want to extend their adventure in the heart of nature will also be able to find a number of the Extraordinary garden dedicated to raccoons, this Sunday evening on La Une.
Among the stories told through these photos, is there one that touched you in particular?
“There is an incredible story. Among the photos, there is the only series of shots of the lynx in Belgium. It proves the existence of this animal among us. There is also the story of Pascal who loves to take pictures from the balcony of his building.“
Can we say that the health crisis has somehow given new impetus to the Extraordinary gardenan almost 70-year-old show?
“Yes, clearly. Our extraordinary garden, the declined show, had its biggest audiences during confinement. It’s historic. There was a real enthusiasm. The idea of involving viewers had been on our minds for a long time and this period was an opportunity to bring it to life. Today, when people talk to us regarding the Extraordinary Garden, they often talk regarding that show. We may shoot from the North Pole to the South Pole, but what viewers talk regarding and what touches the most is what is happening near them.
Since when has nature fascinated you?
“Very young, I did not have a house with a garden but I lived next to a forest. It was my playground. I used to run there and spent my time looking at animal tracks. At 8 years old, I created newspapers where I spoke regarding wolves and other animals and I distributed them in mailboxes.” (laughs)
You are a true globetrotter. Have you ever wanted to settle permanently in one of the countries visited?
“In every country ! I am lucky to have seen and still see different forms of life. In Antarctica, where I have just returned from, I filmed whales and penguins, in Guatemala, hummingbirds, in Finland, bears and at home, the birth of butterflies and dragonflies. And these are just a few examples. I never tire of travelling. My next big trip? Iceland!“
If you hadn’t been a journalist-reporter, would you have chosen a job related to nature?
“I would have liked to study animal species and see how they function. Wildlife is out of control. We know very little regarding it. And as a quote says (from Enzo Maïorca, Editor’s note): ‘Until man learns to respect and dialogue with the animal world, he will never be able to know his true role on this earth.’”
