The Bedford Estates, London
Why Tusk?
TUSK is a charity that works with its project partners to find sustainable solutions to preserve critical habitats, protect endangered species, combat the illegal wildlife trade, empower local communities and promote environmental education throughout Africa.
About TUSK:
Tusk is a dynamic and pioneering organisation with 25 years of experience initiating and funding conservation, community development and environmental education programmes across Africa. Since its formation in 1990, Tusk has invested more than £30 ($40) million into a wide range of projects across the continent.
With royal patronage from HRH Duke of Cambridge, as well as Lord Robin Russell, the Duke of Bedford’s brother, it is our great pleasure to help raise funds for Tusk.
TUSK 'Not for Sale' Garden
The striking ‘NOT FOR SALE’ garden is a unique exhibit, designed to educate the public about the devastating slaughter of endangered African elephant populations, caused by the brutal ivory trade.
With nearly 100 elephants killed every day for their tusks as part of the illegal ivory trade, it’s crucial that organisations like Tusk and Woburn Safari Park share the tragic story about the plight of elephants in the wild.
The conceptual garden has been installed at ‘Elephant Junction’ in the Foot Safari, after it first appeared as an entry at the 2017 RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, when the creation by Ferguson & Whyte Garden Design won a silver award in the conceptual garden category. The installation of the garden comes as the government announces plans for tough new legislation banning the trade of a wide range of ivory products regardless of their age.
Attending a special opening on 22nd May 2018 were Sun Class (Year 3 and 4 students) from Eversholt Lower School in Bedfordshire, as well as Woburn’s female Asian elephants Tarli, Chandrika, Damini and Yu Zin.
Framed by a ringed arch made of 100 pairs of synthetic tusks, NOT FOR SALE symbolises the alarming rate at which African elephants are being killed by poachers, nearly one every 15 minutes.
With the ambiance of the African savannah - planted with grasses and plants - visitors can go on an emotive journey through the installation, where elephant ‘bones’ (made of fibreglass resin) lie in dust as a grave reminder of the ivory trade’s devastating impact. Information signs enhance the learning experience; with information on the African elephants’ plight, the ivory trade and what they can do to help.
Charlie Mayhew, Tusk CEO & Co-founder, said: “We are delighted that Woburn Safari Park has generously agreed to recreate this dramatic Tusk garden to highlight the crisis facing Africa’s elephants. Our aim is to capture the public’s imagination whilst also delivering a powerful message about the devastating impact of the global ivory trade.
Since the eye-catching garden was first featured at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in July 2017, we are pleased that the Government has responded to public demand and committed to introducing new legislation to ban ivory sales in the UK. We are extremely grateful to Woburn for all their continued and invaluable support of Tusk’s conservation work and we hope visitors to the Safari Park will be inspired to help Tusk protect Africa’s wildlife for future generations.”
Drew Mullin, Woburn Safari Park’s General Manager said: “We are incredibly proud to have been selected as the new home for TUSK’s NOT FOR SALE garden, which will be displayed at Woburn as an important reminder of the elephant ivory crisis. African elephant populations have declined by 70% since 1979 so education and public support is vital. Working closely with TUSK, we have raised over £9,000 for the charity since 2016, through our fundraising events. This striking garden is a visually arresting reminder for visitors, encouraging them to understand and support globally important conservation issues.”