Many of you may
not have heard about an interesting event that took place in mid-summer. It was
held at the beautiful location of Bolton Castle in Wensleydale, Yorkshire. The
whole project started out as an awareness building exercise to highlight the
plight of the curlew, an iconic wader who’s numbers have been dropping at an alarming
rate. In both the UK and Ireland birds have declined by ~90% in some locations,
which clearly indicate something is drastically amiss from an environmental
perspective. Without constructive action the curlew’s distinctive moorland song
will become a historic moorland (and coastal) relic, and a song that would be
gravely missed by many if this outcome were to manifest. The event was a
gathering of likeminded individuals ranging from the RSPB to Wader Quest, BTO
and the Game & Wildlife Trust, along with experts and naturalists from the
general public, all wanting to get involved and help in some small way. This
event rolled on from Mary Colwell's charity walk that saw this passionate lady
walk over 500 miles to raise awareness of this enigmatic bird. I donated three
small sketches to this cause last year, which subsequently raised over £350
pounds (this topic is covered in one of my earlier blog's). Unfortunately I
could not attend this summer event in person due to short notice and other
commitments, but in my absence I put together this larger than life ink drawing of
an adult female curlew to provide a focal feature for the event, and add some
colour and a visual element to the weekend.
I think you will
be hearing more about this event in the coming years as it starts to attract
larger crowds of enthusiastic people all sharing the same passion for this bird,
and the breeding landscape it occupies. The event covered all manner of
associated topics including various wading birds and moorland management
discussions. In addition, a guided curlew walk provided the public a chance to
observe the bird in its natural habitat along with a whole host of beautiful
native flora and fauna that is synonymous with the rolling Yorkshire landscape.
Please make sure you mark this event in your calendar for next June...it will be
a great family day out with education opportunities to fuel both novice and
serious birding enthusiast passions alike. Further details are available direct
from Bolton Castle website. www.boltoncastle.co.uk
The piece of
artwork I have for sale is a very large ink drawing of a wonderful female curlew
in a characteristic bold upright pose on toned artboard. I wanted it to be a
large focal feature for the event, and appeal to others who have an affinity
with one of the UKs most majestic waders.
The complete
piece is professionally mounted and the drawing size is 640 x 480 mm, with
external frame dimensions at 1060 x 850 mm.
SOLD
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