Unusual donation from local charity helps artist
11 April 2021
An unusual donation from a local charity has helped an artist to create a fairy door!
In 2023 an exciting new art trail is coming to Furzey Gardens in the New Forest. The trail will see over 20 four-foot, artist-decorated, fairy doors displayed in the gardens to thrill visitors of all ages. Selected artists have now been chosen and are working hard to bring their designs to life. The trail will run from 27 May to 3 September 2023 and will feature a huge range of door designs in the gardens and on local high streets.
One artist is Robynne Willowby from Gadabout Arts who contacted The British Deer Society (BDS) to ask if they had antlers they could donate to help finish her Sherlock Holmes-themed door. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is buried in All Saints churchyard in Minstead, down the road from Furzey Gardens, hence the Sherlock Holmes theme.
Robynne's original sketch for her fairy door
During the same week that Robynne contacted BDS, Dick Carne the son of Peter Carne, one of the BDS founding members, donated some of his father’s books and antlers to the society, something his father had requested. Thanks to Dick and his father’s generosity, they were able to give a set of fallow antlers to Robynne to help complete her door and at the same time, support Minstead Trust, a charity that supports adults with learning disabilities.
Robynne and her fairy door, complete with antlers!
It is a wonderful story that we should all celebrate. 60 years after Peter helped to set up the charity, his son’s donation was able to help a local artist, help a local charity and hopefully bring a smile to all who visit Furzey Gardens Fairy Trail.