BUYER'S GUIDE Wildlife cameras

Kay Maguire cuts through the jargon to explain how wildlife cameras work and what to consider before buying, then shows you a selection of great options for all budgets

- Kay Maguire

Gardens are havens for wildlife, but much of it we never see. Wouldn't you love to know what enjoys your garden when you're not there? Perhaps you have nocturnal visitors like badgers, hedgehogs and foxes or naturally cautious creatures such as birds and deer that you want to watch without disturbing or scaring them? Then a wildlife camera is the answer.

Also known as trail cameras, these digital cameras are designed to be set up outside and left to film or photograph. Usually contained in a sturdy, waterproof, camouflaged case so they can be left outdoors in any weather, they're powered by battery or solar panel, and the majority work in daylight, low light and at night. Most have motion sensors or are triggered by heat, so they start filming as soon as something passes by. The images are recorded on a removeable memory card or downloaded via wifi, so you can then watch your garden wildlife in the comfort of your home.

In this Buyer's Guide, our pick of wildlife cameras includes budget, mini, solar-powered and high-end options, all are ideal for discovering the wildlife in your garden. We offer expert buying tips and explain the techy jargon to help you choose the right camera for you, and our Wildlife Editor Kate Bradbury gives an insight into how best to use them.

Things to consider

• COST Prices range from £30 to over £200. If you just want to see what visits your garden at night, a budget camera is tempting, but it may have lower quality components, be less energy efficient and produce poorer footage.

• POWER SUPPLY Most take standard AA, lithium-ion or rechargeable batteries, others run on solar power, cutting down on cost.