Turtle doves were once widespread across much of England and Wales, but the most recent figures show that the population in the south east, one of the last remaining strongholds, has fallen by 84 per cent since 1995. To help combat and research against the loss of the turtle dove, conservationists embarked on an urgent mission to save the UK’s most threatened farmland bird from extinction. Operation Turtle Dove was launched in May 2012 by the RSPB, Conservation Grade, Pensthorpe Conservation Trust and Natural England.

Matt Sewell has released a giclee print of the original turtle dove watercolour painting, taken from his latest book, Our Songbirds and from each print sold, £30 will be donated to the RSPB’s work protecting wildlife in the south east.

Matt says, ‘“I have hazy summertime memories of hearing the cooing lullabies of turtle doves from when I was a child, it’s horrible to think that that sound could soon be vanishing from Britain completely”

The prints are available here as an 18 cm x 24 cm, archival pigment print on 310gsm fine art stock, signed and dated for £45 including p&p in the UK. (£50 ROW).