“We need to find ways to bring people closer to the rivers and help them see what is at stake. Many local residents won’t realise that they have such a rare species on their doorstep, or how close it is to extinction. This is a ‘mayday’ moment for wild chalk stream salmon. We are watching an ancient species disappear in plain sight”.
– Jim Murray MBE, Project Founder
Disappearing in Plain Sight
Over the May Day bank holiday weekend, Project White Hart joined forces with world renowned street artist, Julian Beever, to unveil a striking public art installation in the heart of Winchester. The art piece – a spectacular 3D chalk salmon which appeared to leap out from the pavement outside Winchester City Museum, was a high profile public focal point intended to build a broader public understanding of chalk stream salmon and what is at stake. Over the weekend, hundreds of members of the public came to see the salmon – and learned more about why they matter.
Project White Hart is a broad and growing coalition of conservation organisations, individuals and businesses, locally led by the Test & Itchen Catchment Partnership hosted by the Wessex Rivers Trust and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, supported by the Atlantic Salmon Trust.
Creative Arts at the Heart of the Project
At the heart of Project White Hart is the belief that the breadth, scale, and urgency of action needed can only be achieved with strong public support. The project will use creative arts to make the invisible visible and inspire people to take whatever action they can. There is growing recognition, both in research and in practice, that creative arts can play an important role in environmental conservation projects, broadening support to a wider group and creating a greater voice for action.
A special thank you to Atlantic Salmon Trust ambassador, Jim Murray MBE, for playing a key role in raising the profile of our chalk streams and their wild salmon.
Media Coverage
The event was covered locally in the Hampshire Chronicle – https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/26074249.public-urged-help-save-hampshire-salmon-3d-chalk-art/
and across the wider region on BBC News South – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8xwjk4xj5vo
Find out more at projectwhitehart.com
