New sea kelp and sandeel sculpture at RSPB Bempton Cliffs to support vital conservation work

The copper installation is covered in stainless steel Sandeel plaques which visitors can purchase to mark a special occasion or commemorate a loved one while supporting Bempton’s vital seabird conservation work.

Sandeels are one of the North Sea’s most important and yet often overlooked species, and a vital food source for many of the UK’s most threatened seabirds, including Puffins, Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Razorbills, all of which breed in internationally important numbers at Bempton.

The new sea kelp sculpture has been specially commissioned for Bempton Cliffs and designed by Hull based Finch Tree, which specialises in producing fundraising trees and plaques.

The sculpture was created in memory of the brother of Roy Smith who has funded its creation with a generous £10,000 donation, £4,000 of that sum funding the design and creation of the installation itself.

Roy, from Folkestone, wanted to help raise funds for seabird conservation work on Yorkshire’s East coast. His brother, who was a keen birder, sadly died aged just 45, an innocent victim of the contaminated blood scandal and on Roy’s request, a special Puffin Plaque will bear his brother’s name in full, Barry James John Smith.

Sandeel populations have been under intense pressure for decades due to unsustainable industrial-scale fishing, climate change and wider pressures on the marine environment. Following years of scientific evidence and campaigning by the RSPB and its supporters, the UK Government announced a closure on industrial Sandeel fishing in English waters of the North Sea in January 2024, with the permanent closure coming into effect in the spring of the same year.

The most recent seabird census suggests that around one in four Puffins have been lost from across the UK since 2000, underlining the scale of the challenge still facing seabirds amid the nature and climate emergency.

The sculpture has been created not only as a place of celebration and remembrance but as a lasting symbol of why Sandeels matter – and what can be achieved when action is taken to protect them. It is hoped to raise around £25,000 for conservation, with Sandeel plaques on offer to purchase at £200 and £250.

Dave O’Hara, senior reserve manager at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, said: “Sandeels may be small, but they sit at the very heart of the North Sea food web. Without them, seabirds like Puffins and Kittiwakes simply cannot raise their chicks successfully. That’s why the closure of industrial Sandeel fishing was such a significant moment for seabird conservation.

“This sculpture is a way of telling that story – of hope, of recovery, and of the people who have campaigned alongside the RSPB for decades to protect these birds. Healthier Sandeel populations mean healthier chicks, and that gives Bempton’s seabirds a fighting chance for the future. Thanks to Roy this sculpture will help seabird conservation and remain a lasting legacy to his brother.”

To purchase a Sandeel plaque, which can be engraved with your own message, email [email protected] or telephone 01767 669700.