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Saving Turtle Doves

Saving Turtle DovesSaving Turtle Doves

Thursday 5 September to Wednesday 16 October

Free entry: 10am to 5pm daily

Reception: Saturday 5 October, 12 noon for 12:30pm - limited places available, please book early.

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.

Silent Auction at the Inspired by... gallery and Dalby Forest

To support the North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project, the North York Moors National Park and Forestry England host joint exhibitions at the Inspired by... gallery, Danby and in the Low Dalby Courtyard in Dalby Forest, presenting a variety of top wildlife artists and photographers.

Headlining this exhibition is Alan Hunt, widely regarded as one of the best wildlife artists in the world, along with a range of renowned artists including Darren Woodhead, Jo Ruth, Jonathan Pomroy, Jennifer Tetlow, Andrew Hutchinson and Marcus Steel.

Each professional artist will have pieces for sale throughout the exhibition, and each have also donated a work of art to be sold in a silent auction. For a chance to own a superb piece of work, bidding will open on Thursday 5 September and will conclude at 5pm on Sunday 13 October.

All money raised will go towards Turtle Dove conservation, a partnership project between the North York Moors National Park, Forestry England and Howardian Hills AONB. The North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project aims to help these beautiful birds which are at risk of extinction both in the UK and Europe.

Alan Hunt - Turtle Dove Painting

Doodle-a-Dove

Alongside the more traditional exhibition, an online auction will see the sale of 25 ‘dove doodles’ created by stars of the screen, including Claudia Winkleman, Ben Kingsley, Jim Broadbent, Chris Packham and Jessica Hynes. 

Copies of these pieces will be displayed at the Low Dalby Courtyard in Dalby Forest, with the framed originals listed on eBay where they can be viewed from 5 September until 16 October. The celebrity Doodle a Dove sketches were listed on eBay. See below for the list of celebrities who kindly donated a doodle. 

Doodle a Dove sketches. From left to right: Russel Tovey, Jim Broadbent, Sophie Thompson

Auction update and a thank you to all supporters

Following the silent art auction and an eBay sale of over 30 ‘doodle-a-dove’ sketches created by stars of the screen, the North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project received an £8,000 boost. 

In total £2,730 was raised via two silent art auctions held at the Inspired by… gallery in Danby and the Low Dalby Courtyard in Dalby Forest. Both featured works by celebrated artists including world-renowned Alan Hunt, Darren Woodhead, Jo Ruth and Jonathan Pomroy.

Another £1,700 was raised through the online sale of over 30 ‘doodle-a-dove’ sketches by celebrities including Strictly Come Dancing’s Claudia Winkleman and Springwatch’s Chris Packham.

Finally, over £3,000 has been raised by Nick Moran and Jonny Rankin after they completed a 163 mile cycle challenge from the British Trust for Ornithology headquarters in Thetford to Kilnsea followed by a marathon in September 2019. Nick also travelled another 171 miles by bike back to Thetford.

We would like to thank all the artists, celebrities and members of the public as well as the National Lottery Heritage Fund for all their support. Such contributions are vital towards reversing the major decline of Turtle Doves that now leaves these once common creatures fighting for survival.

The North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project was awarded the Best Conservation Project 2019 within the UK's 15 National Parks and is determined to continue its fantastic work. The team are currently looking towards future funding bids to ensure the project’s future, but donations are always welcome. If you wish to support the project or would like to learn more please visit the project's homepage.

Celebrity Doodle a Doves