Animal Thanet – Pegwell Safari

Animal Thanet, Blog, Education, Landscape, Natural World

In 2011, I took a series of Animal Thanet images entitled Pegwell Safari – down on the abandoned concrete apron of the former Pegwell Bay Hoverport at Pegwell Bay, Thanet. These images formed part of a postal art project.

Some of the images show the cooling towers & chimney of the former Richborough Power Station, which were demolished by explosives at 09.07am on 11th March 2012.

These images consider & reflect wider concerns for the natural world, particularly focussed on the lives of its wild animals, conservation, loss of habitat, diminishing numbers, poaching, extinction and callous exploitation, which holds a mirror to our humanity. We may soon only have plastic versions of our wild neighbours to play with. The last decade has witnessed the slow & horrible realisation that our negative impact on the planet and particularly our plastic pollution of almost every environment, is a catastrophe for the world around us.

Hippopotamus amphibious Pegwell Bay, Thanet with Richborough Cooling Towers in the background. Image: Christopher Tipping

Hippo Postcard Project – Hippopotamus amphibious Pegwell Bay, Thanet with Richborough Cooling Towers in the background. Image: Christopher Tipping

Plains Zebra, Equus zebra Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping

Buffalo, Syncerus caffer, Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping

Nile Crocodile. Crocodylus niloticus, Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping

Plains Zebra, Equus zebra Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping

Sperm Whale, Physter macrocephalus, Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping

In March 2011 a Sperm Whale beached and died at Pegwell Bay. I remember running along the beach at low tide all the way from Ramsgate to see it. A whale necropsy was carried out the following day, which was astonishing to see.

Sperm Whale beached at Pegwell Bay March 2011 Image: Christopher Tipping

Necropsy of Sperm Whale beached at Pegwell Bay March 2011 Image: Christopher Tipping

Other images were taken earlier in April 2008, of plastic animals from my collection at various sites in Ramsgate and along Ramsgate Main Sands and the Thanet Coast –

Red Deer Stag, Cervus elaphus, Ramsgate Gate Post. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008

Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris, Ramsgate Main Sands. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008

Trans Europa Cross Channel Ferries were still running out from Ramsgate to Ostend at this time –

Okapi: Okapia johnstoni. Ramsgate Sands Eastern Undercliffe, Ramsgate. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008

Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas, Ramsgate Main Sands, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008

Crocodiles & Hippopotamus sharing a rockpool. Eastern Undercliffe, Ramsgate. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008

Beach Elephants: Elephas maximus indicus & Loxodonta africana, Ramsgate Main Sands. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008

Giraffe: Giraffa camelopardalis on Ramsgate Main Sands. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008

Animal Thanet – Elephant Walk

Animal Thanet, Blog, Natural World

‘Animal Thanet’ exists as a series of images which examine our relationship with the natural world and environment through the use of plastic animals placed in a variety of habitats & scenarios in and around Ramsgate & the Isle of Thanet in Kent.

One of my first recollections as a child was of having a farm with plastic animals. I loved it. I collected these animals throughout my childhood and developed a strong affinity with the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. When I got married and had a family and child of my own, I started collecting again – particularly after we moved to Ramsgate, Kent – always under the pretence that they were for my daughter Nell ! Living by the coast was like revisiting childhood.

My wider concerns for the natural world, is particularly focussed on the lives of its wild animals. Loss of habitat, diminishing numbers, extinction and callous exploitation hold a mirror to our humanity. We may soon only have plastic versions of our wild neighbours to play with.

This set of images was made on Ramsgate Main Sands and the coastal walk at low tide between Ramsgate and Broadstairs.