A man who regularly has mice visitors in his garden decided to make something extra special for his rodent guests.
With festival season in full swing, Simon Dell decided to put on a musical extravaganza for his four-legged visitors.
The 49-year-old set up a musical stage in his back garden in Shefflied – complete with miniature instruments and props he’d spent weeks making with recycled materials – and waited for his furry friends to make an appearance.
He also placed some crushed peanuts around the musical set-up, to try and entice the mice to swing by his homemade mini festival. And sure enough, the mice made their band debut appearance and Simon snapped some incredible pictures of his efforts.
‘One, two’ (Picture: Simon Dell/Caters)
The mini music festival (Picture: Simon Dell/Caters)
It took Simon a few weeks of planning (Picture: Simon Dell/Caters)
Simon says: ‘It took me a couple of weeks planning and making the little instruments, tents, and the toilet.
‘I am always in the shed making stuff for the mouse village often from whatever I can recycle and make a natural and fun space for the mice to visit when they come into my garden.
‘The outdoor toilet was a fun idea I had to see if they would go inside, and if they ever learn how to use it, then maybe they will stop going to the toilet on my lawn.’
Simon crafted the instruments and props by hand (Picture: Simon Dell/Caters)
He added crushed peanuts to entice the mice too (Picture: Simon Dell/Caters)
He even added a festival loo (Picture: Simon Dell/Caters)
Oh hello (Picture: Simon Dell/Caters)
He adds: ‘I often place food on or around any props or tables I put out, always thinking about what direction the mouse may come and how it will reach or sit to get the food so it fits with the type of photo I want and placing food a little higher gets the mouse to stand and stretch.’
‘Often they shock me and just sit stand or pose by themselves, some of my best photos are just down to luck and clicking the shutter at just the right time.’
Simon has been making miniature scenes for the mice since 2018 and is out in his garden for around six hours most days, either making props or just sitting and watching them.
Enjoy more of his fun snaps below…
A micro picnic (Picture: Simon Dell/Caters)
‘Often they shock me and just sit stand or pose by themselves’ (Picture: Simon Dell/Caters)
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