House Sparrow, Passer Domesticus.

Among the list of endangered species, it is sobering to learn that the humble House Sparrow is now on the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List, having declined in UK population by almost 70% in the last 40 years. The reasons for this decline are many and unclear but include lack of food in our more sterile gardens planted with non-native species, loss of habitat and nesting sites, and disease.

I am lucky enough to have daily visits from House Sparrows who congregate in my neighbour’s Rambling Rector Rose which grows in profusion between our gardens. Their lively chatter, social character and general sense of busyness explains their collective nouns – a Host, or a Quarrel. House Sparrows have lived alongside humans for millennia, and their familiarity has allowed for regional nicknames to be in common use. In the North of England, they are Spugs or Spuggies.

A new bestiary and herbarium for at risk species by artists from Northern Print.

“Endless Forms Most Beautiful” is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to support visits, new printmaking and school’s programme for this project.

Northern Print artists bring together traditional printmaking and the natural world with a series of new prints highlighting the diversity of species that are categorised as ‘at risk’.

The ‘endless forms’ include marine life; plants; birds; insects and mammals with many familiar and much-loved species as well as less known and intriguing creatures that have captured the imagination and hearts of Northern Print’s artists.

This exhibition of 45 new prints has been made following a series of visits to our region’s natural history collections and habitats and represents the tiniest tip of the iceberg of our natural world under threat.

The artwork includes a range of approaches and printmaking processes – including heritage craft skills also deemed at risk including letterpress and mould-made papers