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Rye Meads

Hello

Local artist Steve Kershaw painted this lovely Turtle Dove water colour for us to Raffle off in aid of Operation Turtle Dove. 

  www.stevekershawwildlifeart.co.uk

Operation Turtle Dove, launched on the 10th May 2012, is a project which aims to reverse the decline of one of England’s best loved farmland birds, the Turtle Dove. The project partners are the RSPB, Conservation Grade, Pensthorpe Conservation Trust and Natural England.

Operation Turtle Dove comprises of three parts:

  1. building on research into the Turtle Dove breeding grounds in England
  2. establishing feeding habitat over core breeding range through advisory and farmer initiatives
  3. research into factors operating during migration and at wintering areas

Turtle Doves have declined by 93% since the 1970s. Once widespread across much of England and Wales, the species is now largely restricted to small areas of East Anglia and the south-east.

The story of the Turtle Dove in Europe is unsettlingly similar to that of the passenger pigeon in North America. A once common and widespread bird, the passenger pigeon was driven to extinction 100 years ago as a result of hunting and habitat loss. After many years of decline we are facing the very real possibility of losing this beautiful bird from the UK and of Turtle Doves becoming Europe’s Passenger pigeon. We must not let a tragedy like this happen in our countryside.

For more information visit www.operationturtledove.org

 

The Raffle draw was held on 20th October 11am by Steve Kershaw and his wife Lynn. Selling tickets at £1 each we raised an amazing £104 for Operation Turtle Dove. Thanks very much Steve.

And the lucky winner was Raymond, who stopped by to pick up his picture yesterday.

 If you like Steves work, fancy a new painting or Love wildlife join us in November as we are hosting The Art of Nature - an exhibition at Rye Meads from Saturday 9th November until Sunday 17th November 2013. Artisits exhibiting will be Steve Kershaw with a collection of sketches and water colours themed around autumn migration and Alan Harris another local artist who gets to see birds regularly in the hand as he is part of the Rye Meads Riniging Group.  Paintings are avaliable to purchase, so stop by and have a look at their stunning artwork in the visitor centre between 9th and 17th November and take a bit of nature in to your home by buying a piece of art from the exhibition.

Thanks

vicky

 

 

Thanks

Vicky