Meet wildlife animator: Will Rose
Laura Ross
Communications Officer, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
From working on some of the most popular children's shows around the world, Will combined his love of storytelling and design, to showcase his number one love; wildlife.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I'm an animator and designer with a passion for the natural world. Based in London, I have over 20 years of experience in the animation industry working on popular children's shows such as Peppa Pig and Hey Duggee as an animator, designer and writer.
I began to make personal projects that focused on my love of wildlife, using recorded sound to bring different species to life, for example Firecrests on Tooting Common and Redstarts at Thursley. Last year I was lucky enough to win an award at the Society of Wildlife artists exhibition at the Mall Galleries. It turns out that my work is the first animation to be accepted and that's something I'm very proud of. I use the medium in the same way as you might use a paintbrush or pencil. Sound adds another descriptive layer that really helps take you back to the field; the moment you heard the call or the leaves rustle.
You've just created a brand new animation all about Terns for Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Can you tell us more about this collaboration?
Last year I began making an animated bird guide called 'What bird is that?', which is hosted on a YouTube channel to help both the young and old identify and enjoy the birds around them. I wanted to make something accessible for everybody to learn how to start birdwatching, how to tell birds apart by their shape, song, behaviour, habitat and have fun along the way.
I'm very proud that 'The Breeding Terns of Rye Harbour' is my first collaboration with a nature reserve. To see the animation playing in the Discovery Centre brings me great joy and I hope everybody will go and give it a watch before going out to spot some terns. They're a very graceful bird in flight and I love the subtle differences in their bill and feet colours. To have all three species at the nature reserve is very special indeed. It was an honour to help to highlight these birds and why creating crucial habitat for them to breed is so important.
Can you identify where your passion for wildlife and the environment came from?
I began to draw birds as a young boy, copying birds such as Red Kites and Swallows out of the bird books around the house. I actually found a few of these drawings recently, as I was helping my mum clear out the loft. I was very lucky to have parents who loved the natural world. Not only would they take me on holidays where there was a good chance of seeing Woodchat Shrikes and Bee Orchids, they also worked as a team, creating artwork for the RSPB. Mum would draw the plant life, Dad would draw the birds. I even had my very own copy of Life on Earth signed to me by David Attenborough. I was of course too shy to ask for his signature at the time (mum did it!), but luckily I was able to work with him in the future for the BBC.
Do you have a favourite spot at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve?
Rye Harbour is a fantastic place to observe and enjoy so many species. I first visited in 2021 and was captivated by the landscape and, of course, the birds. I enjoyed all the hides, but also loved being up near the beach watching diving Gannets from the shore. The chance to have a good slice of cake in the café afterwards is always nice too!
Please spill the beans on Peppa Pig!
I worked as an animator and also co-wrote an episode of Peppa Pig called 'Pedro is late!'. It was a wonderful place to work and I learnt a lot from the fabulous storytelling in that show. I worked on series two to series four of Peppa Pig and also have worked on other shows like Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom, Mr Bean and most recently, Hey Duggee. My passion for nature, and a love of storytelling, led me to make my own award-winning shorts as well as making animated films for David Attenborough, Yoga with Adriene and the British Trust for Ornithology.
Banished to a desert island, what one luxury item would you bring with you?
Although I do love birdsong, I think I would have to bring a record player. I have created animations inspired by some of my favourite tracks. I think I could make artwork on rocks, and enjoy all the wildlife around me, but it is music I would really miss.
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Thanks to the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve for commissioning this special animation about terns.
If you'd like to see it on screen, head to the Discovery Centre. You can also watch further episodes of 'What Bird is that?' here. You can find out more about Will on his website and Instagram.
Comments
what a cool animation. Love it!
05 Jun 2025 10:31:00
What a fabulous film which will I feel will appeal to adults and children alike.
05 Jun 2025 10:35:00
I really enjoyed reading about Will Rose and watching his Rye Harbour tern film. My career has involved art and It’s always special to learn about others’ talents. Thank you for introducing us to this wonderfully creative man.
05 Jun 2025 10:42:00
What a talented man! ……brilliant
05 Jun 2025 11:04:00
What a fantastic and informative short film.
05 Jun 2025 11:06:00
Delightful ! An excellent way of learning. Please give us more .
05 Jun 2025 11:18:00
the film on Terns is a beautiful visual treat and so informative. thanks for sharing.
05 Jun 2025 11:25:00
What a wonderful and informative animation – thanks
05 Jun 2025 11:29:00
What a lovely film – thank you! I now know what to look out for at Rye Harbour.
05 Jun 2025 11:30:00
Thank you for a few moments of delight on this wet and windy morning, well done!
05 Jun 2025 11:38:00
Very interesting and I really enjoyed the animation
05 Jun 2025 11:39:00
So informative – beautifully paced so you can take it all in.
05 Jun 2025 11:50:00
Inspiring video; prompts to revisit Rye which I have been thinking of doing. I stayed there as a child many years ago with my family; we stayed in Mermaid cottage opposite the Mermaid Inn and my brother and I took part in filming which was happening around the Inn, but I can’t remember any details
05 Jun 2025 12:43:00
Beautiful and informative film, thank you!
05 Jun 2025 13:21:00
What a fantastic and informative short film.
05 Jun 2025 13:21:00
I really enjoyed that!
I learnt so much.
Thank you.
Beautifully done.
05 Jun 2025 13:32:00
Beautiful and informative animation. Well done!
05 Jun 2025 14:01:00
Love the short film and learnt a lot ! Well done !
05 Jun 2025 14:18:00
Just wonderful. What a great way to observe and learn about these lovely globe- trotters. Thank you
05 Jun 2025 15:39:00
Really informative and charming animation… could see the images doing well as cards!
05 Jun 2025 15:49:00
Brilliant short animation. So interesting. I would like to see more
Thanks
05 Jun 2025 15:51:00
Really excellent digital animation which probably took many weeks to plan out and create. I used to do “stop motion” animation films myself many years ago using Standard 8mm film plus synchronised sound tracks on 1/4 inch reel to reel tape, all of which took absolutely ages, but the big problem was that if you made a mistake, there was no way to correct it. So you had to get it right the first time. So, well done to you for doing it all digitally = brilliant.
05 Jun 2025 15:59:00
Delightful!
Can’t wait to share this with the grandkids
05 Jun 2025 16:31:00
Brilliant. I shall watch it again with my grandson. So descriptive and easy to understand for children and adults too!!
05 Jun 2025 16:43:00
I really enjoyed that, Great animation, Thank you Will.
05 Jun 2025 16:48:00
Always interesting and informative. I really appreciate it and this animation was of a very high quality
05 Jun 2025 18:43:00
A great animation film, thanks for sharing
05 Jun 2025 19:54:00
Just watched your short – Terns of Rye Harbour animation a second time , this time on you tube. I was so pleased to be able to see the entire video with type unobscured on this occasion.
06 Jun 2025 06:23:00
Absolutely brilliant animation about the Terns! I hope that I can remember the difference between the three but shall keep the animation to share with my grandchildren. Thank you very much.
06 Jun 2025 08:15:00
Absolutely loved Will Rose’s animated video! Thank you 😊
06 Jun 2025 08:28:00
Loved the tern animation; very informative. I used to be a Litle Tern ‘counter’ near Faversham – between Faversham and Seasalter. I wonder if they are still breeding there.
06 Jun 2025 08:35:00
What a great animation. Really useful information, clearly presented, and engaging for young people as well as adults. Lovely to look at as well. Thanks for the interesting interview also!
06 Jun 2025 09:36:00
Best bird identification film I’ve ever seen!
Beats photos and movie footage.
Thanks to all involved
06 Jun 2025 10:07:00
I loved this animation about the 3 types of terms that breed at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
Easy to watch and very educational.
Thanks for sharing it.
06 Jun 2025 12:56:00
Lovely little film
06 Jun 2025 14:17:00
Loved this film. So useful and a delight to view.
06 Jun 2025 14:20:00
different and lovely way to learn.Must visit Rye harbour before they return.Thanks
06 Jun 2025 15:15:00
Lovely, informative film, thank you – now looking for terns in Shoreham on Adur estuary. Rita
06 Jun 2025 16:02:00
What a beautifully created animation; the facts are so clearly explained and the illustrations reminded me of my day at Rye Discovery Centre with the local RSPB group. Will is a very talented artist and I think his parents must be very proud!
06 Jun 2025 23:10:00
really enjoyed the animation.
07 Jun 2025 20:16:00
Really informative and a delight to watch and read. Thank you.
ps Please do more of these animations with different birds.
07 Jun 2025 21:00:00
What a great animation. Really useful information, clearly presented, and engaging for young people as well as adults. Lovely to look at as well. Thanks for the interesting interview also!
08 Jun 2025 07:16:00
Delightful!
Can’t wait to share this with the grandkids
08 Jun 2025 17:55:00
This short animation really made me smile.
I knew nothing about Rye Harbour or the birds that nest there.
I will be planning a trip to the Discovery Centre this summer.
Thank you.
10 Jun 2025 09:28:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
So glad you enjoyed it!
What a lovely film! I’ve never been able to identify the different types of tern, but now I think I’ll be able to – and knowing their calls will help too. Thank you so much!
10 Jun 2025 15:51:00
Absolutely lovely!
11 Jun 2025 07:10:00
That was a brilliant animation. Thank you.
13 Jun 2025 14:13:00
BRILLIANT film about terns so helpful and beautifully made…. congratulations!
14 Jun 2025 10:31:00
Really lovely film. Great having the birdsong along with the animation. Very interesting about terns, did not realise there were different varieties .
20 Jun 2025 11:14:00
Thank-you, very much! I really enjoyed the animation with the beautifully, illustrated (three) Tern species. Memories of my visits to Rye Harbour NR – in the early 1970s – flooded back to me.
25 Jun 2025 02:22:00
A very fine interesting film , well done indeed !
25 Jun 2025 05:41:24
I am a watercolour seascape painter, always keen to learn anything about the birds who visit our wonderful Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Thank you for this fantastic animated video, I will really enjoy showing it to my Granddaughters.
25 Jun 2025 10:42:00