There will be guided walks in the morning and afternoon, led by experts from DWT, talking about the wildlife gardening features and wildlife at Sculpture by the Lakes. Community Conservationists will also be opening up a moth trap from the night before and will be on-hand to talk about wildlife gardening and DWT’s Get Dorset Buzzing Campaign.
Get Dorset Buzzing Community Conservation Officer, Katie Wilkinson said, “Sculpture by the Lakes is a unique place for wildlife, and a wonderful place for people to explore and enjoy. This very special event is being held to help celebrate DWT's Get Dorset Buzzing campaign, which is asking local people to pledge to help declining pollinators in their gardens. So far nearly 4,000 people have made the pledge to help. The money raised from the open day will go towards helping fund conservation work on our 44 nature reserves in Dorset, including habitat restoration work to give homes to declining insects and pollinators.”
Sculpture by the Lakes is a place for art and nature lovers alike. It is nestled in 26 acres of Dorset’s glorious countryside, described as a haven of peace and tranquillity for its visitors who can appreciate the wonder of sculpture and the natural world, in one place. Established in 2011 and run by sculptor Simon Gudgeon and his wife Monique Gudgeon, Sculpture by the Lakes also has The Gallery Café, and plenty of places to enjoy a picnic in the countryside.
Monique said, “At the heart of the park is our love of wildlife and flora and fauna, and Simon’s sculptures include many pieces that have been inspired by wildlife. The gardens include areas such as our carefully planted butterfly walk and wild areas with old log piles, nettle patches and wildflower walks. In our time here we have recorded over 100 species of birds and we are in the middle of a dragonfly and damselfly survey. It only seems fitting that we would support such a wonderful charity as Dorset Wildlife Trust whose work is so aligned with the ethos of the park. We’re very much looking forward to hosting the day and hope it will be huge success and raise much needed funds for the charity.”
To find out more about this event, visit our events pages or phone 01202 692033. Entrance is £7pp. Open 10am – 4pm. Please note that Sculpture by the Lakes has a no children under 14 (including babies) and no dogs policy. Click here to visit the Sculpture by the Lakes webpage.
