Biography
Ajay Haywood Tegala is a nature presenter, author, conservationist and voice-over artist.
He grew up in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, his family moving there shortly after his birth in Chertsey, Surrey. Ajay is the eldest of three children. His maternal family are English and his paternal ancestors moved to England from India.
Ajay studied Environmental Conservation and Countryside Management at Nottingham Trent University. He then went on to work as a ranger on coastal and wetland nature reserves in Norfolk, Northumberland and Cambridgeshire.
His early television credits include appearances on Winterwatch (2012), Springwatch: Unsprung (2009), Coast (2005), Homes by the Sea (2014), Walking Through History (2013), Curious Creatures (2017) with Chris Packham and Celebrity Eggheads (2008).
Ajay presented Inside the Bat Cave (2020), a Springwatch-style documentary about bats, alongside Lucy Cooke. As well as research and story development for series 17 of Springwatch (2005), he also presented a five-minute film and worked as part of the production team for series 9 of Winterwatch (2012). Numerous appearances on Look East (1959) followed and an episode of BBC Radio 4 'Ramblings' with Clare Balding. Ajay has also made a number of short wildlife films on YouTube, some featuring original music by Charlotte Eve.
His first book, "The Unique Life of a Ranger", featuring a foreword by Megan McCubbin, was published by The History Press; it is an account of his work on the North Norfolk Coast. Ajay has also written articles for BBC "Wildlife" and "Countryfile" magazines. A second book, "Wetland Diaries" was also published by The History Press, coinciding with the 125th anniversary of Wicken Fen nature reserve. The book includes two paintings by wildlife artist Eric Ennion as well as other local artists and a foreword by Dame Fiona Reynolds, former Director-General of the National Trust.
Zoë Howe and Ajay created a project titled "Witching the Wild Year", beginning as a live show appearing at theatres and art centres, celebrating the turn of the wheel of the year with explorations into botany, folklore and conservation. The pair are developing the show into a book, to be published around autumn 2027.
