THE Wildlife Habitat Trust’s (WHT) 2016 wildlife habitat conservation stamp has been launched by Lord Dear.
The £5 stamp features artwork entitled ‘Pintail on the Dee’ by well-known wildlife artist Alastair Proud.
Alastair Proud said: “I was very pleased that it was pintail I was asked to paint; they are such a stylish species. I often see them early in autumn on the saltmarsh nearby. I wanted to paint the birds backlit because in open areas, such as saltmarshes, you get such fantastic light. It shows their shape and the lovely colours of their surroundings. I went to the Dee estuary, which I’d never visited before, to find a specific backdrop for the pintail.”
Tim Russell, BASC’s director of conservation, said: “All funds generated by the sale of these stamps are distributed to deserving projects through the Wildlife Habitat Trust. Money raised directly benefits wildfowling and conservation.”
John Dryden, chair of BASC’s wildfowling liaison committee, said: “The WHT continues to be an important source of funds for wildfowling clubs and, as such, helps to ensure that wildfowling throughout the UK continues to thrive. The WHT stands ready to help protect the sport of wildfowling for future generations to enjoy. As well as being beautiful works of art, the stamps are always popular and funds raised assist the invaluable work of the WHT.”
The stamp and framed prints of the artwork are available via the WHT’s online shop at: http://www.wht.org.uk/index.php/new-shop/stamps-2/