Lost And Gone – For Ever? – Phil Barton

The Whitaker's taxidermy collection features species now extinct locally, explored by ecoartist Phil Barton through three species and a habitat—Atlantic Salmon, Redshank, Red Squirrel, and Hay Meadows. About The Whitaker is home to a taxidermy collection gathered locally and around the world. Many of the items are representative of species now extinct in the Rossendale Valley. A common feature is that their absence is a result of the actions of the largest and one of the most numerous species still living in the area – Homo sapiens. EcoArtist, Phil Barton, has researched the collection, taken advice from local naturalists, John Hallsworth, Kevin Listor and Groundwork's Arthur Baldwin, and has chosen three species and one habitat, all now extinct in the Rossendale Valley – Atlantic Salmon, Redshank, Red Squirrel and Hay Meadows. The reasons for their local extinction are various, but include pollution, river adaptation to prevent flooding and drive water wheels, introduction of alien diseases, changes in farming economics and practices and urban development. Visitors to the exhibitions will not have seen red squirrels or salmon in the Valley, and only older visitors will remember hay-making or breeding redshanks on wet grasslands. But many of these extinction events are reversable. It only takes determination, good science and a commitment to change. Red Kites are common throughout England and Wales. When the artist was a boy, only a few breeding pairs survived in the UK, near his home in mid Wales. Stalks have returned to southern wetlands are moving north, and now beavers are being re-introduced to river catchments. Why not here? Action could also assist species moving north as the climate changes, protecting them for our children's children. As you look at the specimens and accompanying prints, you are invited to mourn what we have done and to resolve to do better in future. There is more information with each of the works and you may like to respond on the postcards provided near the window. Instagram @philbxyz