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Turtle Dove Art Auction for Conservation

Mon 9th Sep, 2019

Raising Funds for Conservation Action

Two different art auctions will be raising money to help save the region’s endangered turtle doves this September, with the creators ranging from celebrated wildlife artists to actors and TV presenters.

The ‘Saving Turtle Doves’ exhibition opens at Low Dalby courtyard in Dalby Forest and at the 'Inspired by…' gallery at The Moors National Park Centre, Danby, on Thursday 5 September.

On display will be works by some of the UK’s most renowned artists and photographers, including Alan Hunt; widely regarded as one of the best wildlife artists in the world. The top draw list doesn’t stop there with Darren Woodhead and local artists Jonathan Pomroy, Jo Ruth, Andrew Hutchinson and many more.

Each of the professional artists will have pieces for sale, and have also donated a work of art to be sold in a silent auction, with proceeds going to the North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project. 

Alongside the more traditional exhibition, an online auction will see the sale of 25 ‘dove doodles’ created by stars of the screen, including Sophie Thompson, Claudia Winkelman, Ben Kingsley, Jim BroadbentChris PackhamBill Oddie and Jessica Hynes. Copies of these pieces will be displayed at the Courtyard in Dalby Forest, with the framed originals listed on eBay until the 13th of October.

The exhibitions and auctions are collaborations between Forestry England and the North York Moors National Park Authority.

Turtle doves are now critically endangered in the UK. We’re incredibly fortunate that the landscape of the North York Moors provides one of the last remaining strongholds for the species.

The Saving Turtle Doves silent auction open at the start of the exhibition on Thursday 5 September, concluding on Sunday 13 October. For directions to Danby click Here. For Directions to the Dalby exhibition Click Here

Celebrity ‘doodle a dove’ sketches can be viewed online from Thursday 5 September by visiting eBay and searching for Doodle a Dove.

North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Sightings Update September 2019

Turtle Doves are still being seen in parts of North Yorkshire this month. On September 7th an adult and a juvenile were seen in the North Yorkshire forests. Please keep a keen eye out, and if you see a Turtle Dove email us with details of date, numbers of birds and the place with a grid reference or postcode to conservation@northyorkmoors.org.uk

Petra Young Forestry England and Richard Baines YCN Director and Turtle Dove Project Officer North York Moors National Park