Raptor Rescue Patrons

Pollyanna Pickering
Chris Packham

Pollyanna Pickering
Pollyanna is acclaimed as one of Europe's foremost wildlife artists, her published work selling in eighty countries worldwide. Her paintings will be familiar to most people from her extensive ranges of prints and cards, many commissioned by charities including the WWF, Guide Dogs for the Blind and the RSPB. Pollyanna designs exclusively for Harrods, and has painted postage stamps for African countries and First Day Covers for the Royal Mail.

Pollyanna's determination to paint only animals which she has observed in their natural habitats has lead her into a remarkable and unique series of journeys into some of the most inhospitable areas of the globe. Her expeditions to study threatened species have taken her across five continents, from the borderlands of Tibet in search of Giant Pandas, to the wastelands of Siberia where she painted the threatened Amur Tiger.

Pollyanna, who studied at the London Central School of Art, has received many awards for her paintings including the coveted Conservation Artist Award from the Canada based World Nature Artists Group and the Millennium Trophy bestowed by The Wildlife Art Society International, who last year invited her to become a patron of the society. In 2003 she received a commendation for her work in the Arts at the European Women of Achievement Awards and the following year won one of the UK's most prestigious national business awards, a Natwest Everywoman Award.

Pollyanna's charitable Foundation raises funds for international conservation and wildlife rescue, and Pollyanna acts as patron of several national charities including Raptor Rescue , The Badger Trust, Naturewatch and the African/ Asian Conservation Trust.

Back to Top

Chris Packham

Chris has been involved with the Charity since 1994 when he agreed to hand out the prizes in our Junior artists competition. A zoologist, photographer, author and TV presenter, Chris has travelled the world filming for television encountering many exotic creatures in countless weird and wonderful locations around the globe. However, he still retains a passion for our native flora and fauna. Birds are one of Chris’ special interests. Birds of prey in particular.

Here is what he wrote for our Annual Review:

"1957 Ferrari 250 pontoon-bodied Testa Rossa’s do it for me. An old photograph of Audrey Hepburn on a bicycle does it for me.

But what does it more, more often, are glimpses of Sparrowhawks rocketing over brambles at dawn; hitting blackbirds before they clear the night’s dust from their eyes. A shape of rich sienna tuming, a soundless rush and then a pretty flurry which hides a little death. Then a scream and at last a puff of loose grey feathers stuck by dew to the path. Somewhere she cowers with bloodied beak and those eyes, little suns, round yellow furies whose glare tattoos the wild onto the soul of whoever reflects their flame.

I am sure it is this power which draws us to the raptors, and why when they falter or fall they elicit our strongest feelings of pity. The purest would stand in horror of their incapacity and if it appears permanent, tolerate no less than euthanasia. Imperfections imposed on perfection are, it is true, anti nature. However, those who ‘love’ their birds will use their awe and respect to nurture the wounded and forgive them their lame blindnesses, they will cherish the ruins and do anything to prolong their essential lives.

What falls between these extremes could be called the rehabilitator’s scale. There is no right and wrong. Where you slide your opinion to is up to you and no debate should ever rage to produce a standard.

Every effort made to sustain the lives and health of these, our most fabulous birds, is credible and no applause great enough to drown that hollow heartbeat felt when a patient flicks over a field and back into the forbidden side of life, a wingbeat the only wave of gratitude as it fades back into the wild.

And then I fantasize...
...How about Audrey Hepburn in a 250 Testa Rossa -
with a musket perched on the bonnet!"

Back to Top