Finding new ways to get the message across that dumping rubbish in the countryside isn’t acceptable can be a real challenge and that’s why we’re delighted that the problems encounters on sites including Idle Valley & Attenborough nature reserves at the height of pandemic have provided inspiration for three new installations by Nottinghamshire-based sculptor Michelle Reader.

The sculptures, inspired by and incorporating materials dumped at Idle and Attenborough, are now on show at The Harley Gallery and Portland Collection Museum at Welbeck, Nottinghamshire – having originally be due to be exhibited in 2020.

Items featured in the sculptures, which depict a goat, a bumblebee and a bearded vulture, include parts from a washing machine, a cooker and a microwave as well as skis and a gas mask!

Michelle, who has been working with waste materials since 1997, hopes to encourage people to think more about recycling following the rise in fly-tipping and littering during the 2020 lockdown. She was shown some of the items dumped at our reserves, including a washing machine, car tyres and old bike frame and spoke to our team about the increase in littering.

The inspiration for the bearded vulture came after one was spotted in the Peak District in summer 2020 – famously photographed by our own Indy Kiemel,

The exhibition runs until 24 July.