Three seasonal trails highlighting the best of the UK’s wetland nature will be running at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre from now until February 2024.
It's part of a partnership between renowned illustrator Sir Quentin Blake and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust.
Throughout the partnership, “Drawn to Water: Quentin Blake at WWT”, Arundel Wetland Centre will run three seasonal trails with guides using selected little-seen-before illustrations of watery nature from Quentin Blake to help inspire visitors to view the wonder of wetland nature in a different way.
Each of the trails, Spring/Summer, Autumn, and Winter, will highlight the amazing nature that arrives each season, showcasing new life, sparkling water and visiting birds, helping everyone experience nature in new, unexpected ways through the artist's work .
These trails will run alongside a range of art and illustration activities to inspire all ages and abilities.
The Drawn to Water summer trail opened on May 18 and includes images of life in a nest while sitting inside the Reedbed Willow Sphere – part artwork, part wildlife hide. Watching for kingfisher families, listening to birdsong and hunting for dragonfly larvae also feature in the summer trail.
Commenting on the partnership Quentin Blake said:
“I am delighted to be sharing my pictures with WWT sites and their visitors through the Drawn to Water experience. This project appealed to me because I have a lifelong fascination of drawing wetland wildlife, especially birds.
“I can't quite explain why but it may be because like us, they are on two legs and have expressive gestures. The drawings you will see are from my own personal archive, and many have rarely been seen in public before.
“Through Drawn to Water I hope that seeing my artwork in places where these creatures are thriving will allow new audiences to enjoy wetland wildlife as much as I do, perhaps prompting a few people to pick up a pen, pencil or even a quill and do their own drawing.”
Elizabeth Pearce, Learning Manager at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre said:
"People of all ages love Quentin Blake’s illustrations. These collectible trail cards share ways to connect with nature at Arundel through the seasons from summer ducklings, autumn migrating martins or winter’s marsh harrier roost. There is always wildlife to experience and creative ways to connect with the natural world."
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