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‘Rubbish’ artist plans animal portrait marathon
One of Hercule's 'rubbish' portraits.

The event will raise funds for charities including StreetVet.

A ‘rubbish’ animal portrait artist who rose to fame during lockdown is planning to undertake a portrait marathon to raise funds for the charities StreetVet and Turning Tides.

Hercule Van Wolfwinkle, real name Phil Heckels, will walk 26 miles from Worthing to Brighton and back again on Sunday, 14 May. Along the way he’ll be stopping once a mile to badly draw the pets of people who come out to see him on his route.

Hercule started to draw what he describes as ‘rubbish’ portraits of pets in 2020 to entertain his son during the first coronavirus lockdown.

After his work went viral online, he began to use his lack of artistic talent to raise money for charity. People commissioning portraits of their pets from Hercule have been encouraged to make a donation to one of his two chosen charities: Turning Tides, a local homelessness charity, and StreetVet, which provides free veterinary care to the pets of people experiencing homelessness.

One famous face who received a portrait from Hercule was Paul O’Grady, who was an ambassador for StreetVet.

Since he started fundraising, Hercule has raised more than £260,000 for the two charities.

Jade Statt, clinical director, brand ambassador and co-founder of StreetVet, will be joining Hercule for part of the route. She said: “We are so incredibly happy to have Hercule supporting us, his drawings are hilarious and never fail to make us laugh. His fundraising efforts have been of incredible help to us and we love the idea of his portrait marathon.”

Those who wish to donate to StreetVet, but won’t be able to make it to the route, are encouraged to donate online.

 

Image (C) Hercule Van Wolfwinkle

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
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NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.