By Lara Lambert

Taped to wildlife artist Robert Fuller’s easel there is a photograph of a huge female elephant rolling suggestively at the feet of a male, her enormous wrinkled back setting off a cloud of desert-white African dust.

Robert, who paints directly from his research photographs, is proud of this snapshot into elephant behaviour. “This female had been quite clearly flirting, it was quite amusing to watch, and very unusual,” he said.

The picture is just one of many photographic trophies the Yorkshire Wolds artist has brought back with him from a recent trip to Namibia and which he is eager to begin painting.

“Photographs,” says Robert, in reference to the recent international outrage over the killing of the famous Zimbabwean lion, Cecil, “are the only keepsakes you should bring back from Africa”.

The artist, who lives in Thixendale, is deeply committed to the conservation of the creatures to which he owes his livelihood.

His recent trip to Namibia has inspired a major new drive to highlight species both abroad and in the UK that need protection.

York Press:

Robert Fuller's photo of a flirtatious female elephant

“When it comes to conservation it is easy to think that it’s only the big names like the lions, rhinos and elephants that need our help, and to feel a little out of touch and helpless in the face of their plight, “In fact there are plenty of species closer to home that need our attention too.”

Rescuing and protecting wildlife is an everyday part of Robert’s life. Every morning he drives through the countryside surrounding his home and garden in Thixendale feeding and checking on the wildlife living there, including badgers, foxes and owls - especially barn owls.

Robert is the founding member of the Wolds Barn Owl Group and his day to day work involves building and putting up nest boxes throughout the region as well as feeding and caring for his local population through harsh winters.

York Press:

Robert Fuller with wild barn owls

At home, Robert’s garden is planted specifically to feed and shelter wildlife. Among his successes since moving to the former farm house in 1998, is that the population of tree sparrows – one of Britain’s most endangered species – has risen from just one breeding pair to 30.

Robert also regularly takes in injured birds and hedgehogs. On his porch there is often a box containing a tawny owl chick or a barn owl that needs a new home. He has been so successful in rehabilitating owls back into the wild that he now advises the World Owl Trust, of which he is a patron.

He also runs a long-term project to boost the number of nest boxes on the Yorkshire Wolds by working with local schools and has worked to advise York Minster on how to protect a pair of peregrines nesting in the medieval tower.

Now he hopes to combine this conservation work with his art via a major new exhibition to raise awareness of the plight of endangered animals both abroad and here in the UK.

The exhibition, which opens at his Thixendale gallery between November 7th – 29th , will showcase a new series of paintings of British wildlife in need of protection alongside his latest images from Namibia.

The artist hopes his portraits of these creatures, which are displayed alongside his piercing photographic and video studies of animal behaviour, will inspire visitors to do what they can to help.

York Press:

Tree sparrows on a branch. Photo by Robert Fuller

“There is so much that people can do to conserve wildlife both abroad and the creatures on our doorsteps,” he said. “Sometimes it’s just small things like putting up a nest box or leaving grass verges uncut for barn owls to hunt in.

“I think sometimes conservation can feel a little overwhelming, but if everybody does one small thing then we can achieve quite a lot.”

  • Robert Fuller’s exhibition: Saving Nature Near and Far opens from November 7th – 29th at his gallery in Thixendale, near Malton. For details see his website www.robertefuller.com

 

Save the Nature on Your Doorstep: Artist Robert Fuller’s list of top 10 UK species you can help

 

Red Squirrels

With just 14,000 red squirrels left, this is one of Britain’s most endangered species.

What can you do? Grey squirrels have to be kept under control and charities that are tackling this, such as Red Alert, need your support.

York Press:

Robert Fuller's painting of a red squirrel

 

Hedgehogs

Once one of the UK’s most common creatures, hedgehogs are now endangered. Their rapid decline is partly due the effect of climate change on their hibernation patterns, road casualties, the rise of new building developments and increased use of pesticides.

What you can do? You can attract hedgehogs by building them a house to hibernate in- an old log pile will do – and make sure your garden fence has a hole big enough for them to squeeze through. And remember: slug pellets kill hedgehogs.

 

Lapwings

With just 140,000 breeding pairs left in the UK, this once-familiar farmland bird is increasingly rare. The loss is almost entirely due to intensive farming.

What you can do? Farmers: leave a suitable patch of field uncultivated for breeding lapwings. Dog walkers: keep dogs on a lead during the breeding season. Lapwings nest on the ground where their eggs and chicks are vulnerable.

York Press:

Lapwing, by Robert Fuller

 

Black Grouse

There are just 5,000 black grouse males left. Their decline is mainly due to dramatic changes to their moorland habitat.

What you can do? Drink whisky! Distillers Famous Grouse have teamed up with the RSPB to raise funds to restore moorland reserves with heather and low shrubs. A percentage of sales of their Black Grouse goes directly to the moorland project.

 

Grey Partridge

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Grey partridge by Robert Fuller

The wild grey partridge population has suffered a massive drop in numbers of more than 86% from 1967-2000 because of land use changes and the indirect effect of pesticides. This killed off the insects that young chicks depend on.

What you can do? Support the Game Conservancy Trust’s work to protect grey partridges. The trust works with farmers and landowners to help them preserve the insects and provide nesting cover.

 

Tree Sparrows

A serious drop in populations means this species is currently 93% in decline.

What you can do? Don’t trim your hedges during the breeding season. Tree sparrows like thick hedges. Put up nest boxes. Tree sparrows live in colonies so site several boxes with 32mm entrance holes next to each other or build a sparrow terrace. Put out plenty of mixed seeds in your bird feeders too.

 

Barn Owls York Press:

Barn owl, by Robert Fuller

Although barn owls are not listed as endangered, these birds of prey are relatively lightweight and struggle to survive in harsh winters. On the Yorkshire Wolds, where winters can be extreme, populations have reached a dangerous low.

What you can do? Farmers: barn owls feed off voles, which live in rough grassland: set aside field margins for them. Gardeners: Leave the grass verges outside your home to grow long. The fashion for tidy lawns and trimmed roadside verges means there is nowhere for voles to live.

 

Butterflies and Bees

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Common Blue butterflies. Photo by Robert Fuller

Britain’s bees and butterflies are in trouble. Three quarters of UK’s butterfly species have halved in the last decade and bees are suffering a serious decline too.

What you can do? Plant a wildflower meadow, nectar bank or even just a small bee ‘bouquet’ in your garden. These insects feed on the nectar of a wide variety of native species; include early and late flowering plants to provide nectar throughout the year. Butterflies like warmth so choose a sunny spot to plant up.

 

Garden Birds

Garden birds are in decline and in some cases birds considered to be common are disappearing at an alarming rate. House sparrows and starlings are among the worst hit species. Others like yellow hammers or willow warblers are increasingly rare.

What you can do? Put food out for them, especially over winter. Seeds and fat bars are best. If you can, provide water. A pond gives the birds clean water to bathe in and drink. In winter, break the ice on the ponds. Cats are one of the causes of decline. Tie a bell to your cat’s collar to warn birds and keep them in at night.