Derbyshire Wildlife Trust have created an innovative and virtual way of celebrating this year’s Hen Harrier Day.
Supporters submitted A5 postcard paintings, drawings or multimedia prints with an uplands theme for an online auction, which opens this week. The Trust have received over 50 fabulous designs including birds, landscape, plants and animals which are available for auction here.
Although artwork is displayed anonymously, a number of famous and local artists are supporting the event, including Matlock-based wildlife artist Esther Tyson, award winning writer Gill Lewis and Axel Scheffler whose is best known for his distinctive and much loved illustrations in Julia Donaldson’s books.
The Trust want to raise money for their Wild Peak and Hen Harrier Action work, to protect wildlife in Derbyshire’s uplands. The auction opens for bids at 9.30am 31st July and will close 5pm 14th August. The Trust are also running a webinar about birds of prey on 6th August and more information will available on the website and Facebook page.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s people’s engagement officer Diane Gould says “We couldn’t run our usual event this year so we’ve asked people to provide artwork for an auction instead – we’re thrilled with the fantastic response. We’ve had some stunning, gorgeous pieces come through, we think they will be very popular.
“Although the artwork is anonymous, it’s wonderful that famous artists and illustrators are joining in too - people won’t know whose work they are bidding on until they have won! We hope that we can raise substantial funds to help secure a better upland environment for wildlife and for everyone to enjoy.”
Hen Harrier Day is held around 11th August every year and is an important date in the calendar for the Trust and groups concerned about the iconic bird’s worrying decline. Hen harriers have been pushed to the brink of UK extinction – mainly through illegal persecution in upland areas. Last year over 1500 people gathered at Carsington Water to celebrate and hear passionate talks about the bird and other upland species.
More information can be found here.
