Aotearoa New Zealand’s very first ecological group Forest
& Bird is turning 100 this year and NZ Post is marking
the turning point with a stamp release including splendid
watercolour art work of plants and animals.
NZ
Post dealt with Forest & Bird to commission works by
Wellington wildlife artist Rachel Walker.
NZ Post
Collectables Programme Manager Lynette Townsend says the
stamps represent Forest & Bird’s lots of substantial
accomplishments over the previous 100 years in Aotearoa New
Zealand.
“This gorgeous collection likewise represents
the 4 primary locations of Forest & Bird’s preservation
work – terrestrial, freshwater, marine and
environment.”
Lynette said along with stamps, NZ Post
has actually likewise produced other Forest & Bird 100-year
collectables consisting of welcoming cards, tea towels and
prints.
Paying homage to the work Forest & Bird
does, Rachel said forest and birds are a few of New
Zealand’s “most important treasures”.
“It’s
so crucial to have an organisation particularly to safeguard
them.”
With this collection, Rachel said she wanted
to bring the outdoors in.
“I love the beautiful
flows and patterns, and feathers and scales, nature creates.
It’s great for your wellbeing to be outdoors amongst the
flora and fauna, listen to the birds, and get the fresh
forest air. I wanted to bring a little bit of that feeling
indoors to our walls with my artwork.”
Working with
communities, Government and supporters, Forest & Bird is
funded solely by memberships, donations and
bequests.
Forest & Bird’s Chief Executive Nicola
Toki says the stamp release is a significant and an
emotional moment for members of the
organisation.
“It recognises the efforts of
thousands of Forest and Bird members, volunteers and staff
over the past century to preserve our endangered wilderness
areas and the critters they’re home to.
The four
artworks depict landscapes and species of significance to
the society and its membership,” she said.
“The stamp
collection starts with a depiction of Kāpiti Island,
through to the fourth image of the Buller Plateau,
representing current conservation concerns/future
work.”
As part of Forest & Bird’s centennial
celebrations a stamp launch event will be held on April
5.
“I’m really looking forward to joining Rachel at
the big reveal of her exquisite stamp designs at
Otari-Wilton’s Bush in Te Whanganui-A-Tara on April
5th.”
“We’ve featured Rachel’s beautiful paintings
on a range of products so that people can share and enjoy
the celebration by displaying her artwork in their homes,
giving Forest & Bird collectables as gifts or sending
cards to friends and family,” Lynette said.
“They
also pay tribute to the people who have worked to safeguard
and restore nature for the past 100 years. We want anyone
who cares about Forest & Bird’s important work to be
able to join in on the celebrations, whether or not they are
stamp collectors.”
The Forest & Bird stamps and
other collectables are now available for pre-order – with
a release date of 5 April 2023.
“It’s been our
pleasure to work with NZ Post on this collection and we hope
stamp collectors and members of the public like the variety as
much as we do,” Nicola
concluded.
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