Don’t miss your opportunity to bid on Avocet, a sculpture generously donated by celebrated artist, Geoffrey Dashwood. All proceeds raised will go straight to the RSPB’s work to protect birds and defend nature.
Birds fill our gardens, parks and wild spaces with their songs. House Sparrows and Swifts make their homes alongside us in our towns and cities, Kingfishers cruise along our canals and rivers, and Red Kites and Golden Eagles soar through our skies. But right now, many of our species are in crisis.
We’ve lost more than 38 million birds since the 1960s. Losses of habitat and food sources are having devastating impacts on their populations.
But we know we can turn it around. With your support, we’ve helped species, including Avocets, recover. Once extinct in the UK, these elegant waders are now a powerful symbol of conservation success.
We’re thrilled that Geoffrey Dashwood, the renowned sculptor, has generously donated one of his works to help us raise vital funds for conservation. The artist has amassed many fans, including Chris Packham. On his work, Chris says:
“With confident authority he employs an economical style which produces all the tension, the sensuality, the absolute charm of living birds.”
The donated bronze Avocet will be sold to the highest bidder. The winner will also enjoy the opportunity to visit Geoffrey Dashwood’s studio to see where his work comes to life.
Take a look.
The auction closes on Friday 15 November, and all bids over £5,000 will be considered.
To submit a sealed bid, email mike.annison@rspb.org.uk with your name, address and highest bid. The highest bidder will be contacted before Friday 29 November.
How your donation will help
The money raised will be directed to where it would be most beneficial. This could include habitat restoration on our nature reserves, that will help species like Avocets, or campaigning work. Recent campaign successes include a ban on sandeel fishing in Scottish and English North Sea waters, which offers a lifeline to struggling seabirds such as Puffins.
Once extinct in the UK as a breeding bird, Avocets began to breed in East Anglia shortly after World War II. Havergate Island and RSPB Minsmere had been flooded during the war for defence purposes and this proved attractive habitat for Avocets.
The reserves’ Wardens began adding shallow lagoons for the birds to feed and creating islands to provide them with safe places to raise chicks. This habitat management technique of creating ‘scrapes’ has been adopted around the UK.
Avocets now breed as far north as Northumberland. They have become a poster species for conservation success and take pride of place on our logo!
But there’s more that urgently needs to be done for the UK’s birds – and we can only do it with your help.
Since the 1960s, more than 30 million birds have vanished from UK skies. Ready to help?
