A hawker dragonfly at Strumpshaw Fen
Strumpshaw Fen lies around six miles to the east of Norwich. It's the home to marsh harriers and bitterns as well as an array of dragonflies and butterfiles.
Visitors at Strumpshaw Fen from Holy Trinity Church, Norwich
Back row, left to right: Caroline Verdon-Smith, Jenni Scott, Deepthi Ganeson and Hannah Gray
Front row, left to right: Megan and Bethany Verdon-Smith, Naomi Scott, Clara Gray, Diya Ganeson and Henry Scott
This group of visitors from Holy Trinity Church in Norwich picked out different features in the Emily Williamson statue design that they liked. For Diya Ganeson it was because it looked so beautiful. Bethany Verdon-Smith particularly liked the starling flying from Emily's hand.
Strumpshaw Fen is one of the reserves that will benefit from The RSPB Eastern 400 cycle ride. To donate please go to Andrew's fundraising page.
Henry Appleton, 7, from Poringland, Norfolk
For Henry Appleton of Poringland, Norfolk, the challenge was to pick out the lettering in the statue. He read correctly: The Plumage Act, 1921.
Heather from Hardley, Norfolk
Heather from Hardley, Norfolk had travelled especially to Strumpshaw to see the maquette. She loved the design: "Eve has perfectly captured the landscape, the setting and the image of Emily setting the bird free."
At midday on Monday, 31st, Andrew resumed his 400 mile cycle ride. Half the money he raises will go towards vital conservation efforts at the eight RSPB reserves he is visiting on the ride. The other half will go towards funding a permanent statue to the female founder of the UK’s largest nature conservation charity.
To donate to the fundraising campaign please visit Andrew's fundraising page.
Andrew headed for RSPB Titchwell
Andrew on a training run in Bollington, Cheshire
The Emily Williamson statue will be placed in Fletcher Moss Park, Didsbury, Manchester, where Emily lived when she founded the RSPB in 1889.
Cycling 400 miles and visiting eight RSPB nature reserves across six counties Andrew is aiming to raise £5,000.
Andrew’s RSPB Eastern 400 ride takes him to eight RSPB reserves in the six counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Lincolnshire, beginning 23 July and finishing Wednesday 2 August, He is aiming to raise £5,000 towards the fundraising goal of £100,000 and half of the funds raised with be shared among the RSPB reserves he is visiting.
Eve Shepherd with her winning design
In December 2020 a competition was launched by author and journalist Tessa Boase and Andrew, in partnership with the RSPB, to design a statue of Emily Williamson (1855-1936). The four shortlisted designs were unveiled on the centenary of The Plumage Act (1 July 2021), the RSPB’s first legislation triumph and the result of Emily’s long campaign.
Brighton based sculptor Eve Shepherd’s winning design was then made available as 20 limited edition 40 cm high bronze maquettes which are also for sale as part of the fundraising efforts for the life-sized sculpture of Emily.
To find out more please go to www.emilywilliamsonstatue.com