The Buckingham Otters Auction

After a Summer of Otter Spotting, the Buckingham Otters Bidding Extravaganza Begins

Did you fall in love with the otters? Would you like to become the proud owner of one? Our final key event of the project, the Buckingham Otter Auction is here and bidding opens this Friday 24th September 2021!

The Buckingham Otter Trail was a temporary feel-good public art installation featuring ten 3ft tall sized otter sculptures. Sponsored by local businesses and organisations, the otters were decorated by professional artists, school children and community groups which brought much excitement to the town over summer.

Photograph of painted otter sculptures

Following the removal of the otter-tastic sculptures at the end of the trail and their appearance at the first-ever Celebrate Buckingham event, Buckingham Town Council will now say their final farewells to the beloved otters as they swim away to their new forever homes.

Chairman of the Town Centre Events Committee Cllr Robin Stuchbury said “After a summer of giving so many people pleasure the otters are going up for auction, if you’ve enjoyed seeing the otters this is your opportunity to purchase one and by doing so you’ll be contributing to the Mayor’s charities and benefiting our local community, in the very same way the otters have throughout the summer. So please don’t miss this one off opportunity of owning your own Buckingham otter and by doing so you’ll be helping others”.

The bidding will be taking place online using social media and the Town Council website. Each week one otter will be added to the auction, you will have nearly two weeks to make your highest bid.  The otter being auctioned will be on display at the Tourist Information Centre. Bids may be submitted through the Town Council website and by telephone.

The online event will see our large sculptures auctioned, with profits to be split equally between the Mayor’s Charities and a future similar event next summer. The Mayor’s Charities are Project Street Life and Community Care North Bucks, which includes YC2 Buckingham & Winslow Young Carers, North Bucks Carers, Open House and the Hospital Car Service. We could not be more delighted to raise money for these worthy causes, pouring funds straight back into supporting the community and making another sculpture trail next summer for everyone to enjoy.

If you wish to find out more information about the auction or one or more of the otter sculptures, please visit www.buckingham-tc.gov.uk

We’ll be sad to wave goodbye to our otters but we’re sure there are wonderful things on the horizon for them in their new homes!

Buckingham Otter Trail

Download your free trail map today

A new family of ten otters are visiting Buckingham this summer! Decorated by local school children, artists and community groups and sponsored by local businesses and charities. Find ten 3ft life size otter sculptures dotted around town and surrounding green spaces. It is easy to take part, you can pick up a map from the Tourist Information Centre or download one via our website and you can also follow the trail on our community heritage exploration app Buxplore. The Buckingham Otter Trail is a feel-good art sculpture event that is on throughout summer 2021 making a perfect family friendly day out.

 

 

Wildflower Art Contest Winners

Buckingham’s first wildflower art contest has been a great success, with a truly wonderful variety of flowers chosen for the entries.

Local artist, Fiona Hancock took on the role of judge after creating watercolour illustrations for Buckingham wildflower information boards (now on display in Bourton Park.)

Selecting winners was a tough task. Fiona told us that “The variety and quality of the work submitted was outstanding. It was difficult to choose winners but the ones chosen reflect the wildflower theme and high level of art entered. All entries clearly enjoyed creating their pieces and it was a pleasure to view them all.”

The adult winners were:

  • Carmen Carreira, with a watercolour of Buckinghamshire and Chiltern Gentian
  • Laura Bentley with a freehand machine embroidery and appliqué Moon [Ox-eye] Daisy.
  • Highly commended was Amy Godfrey with a bold and colourful digital art wildflower posey with cow parsley at its centre.

Carmen’s detailed painting will be printed on the cover of the Summer 2021 edition of Buckingham Town Matters. Laura told us “I am really overwhelmed to be one of the ones chosen. I love where we live and this is nice way to celebrate it.”

Entries from young people were judged separately, and a fantastic selection of entries were received. The winners were:

  • Evie Hurman-Ball and Renata Kapinos, both from The Buckingham School with water colour entries. Evelyn’s piece focused on a bee landing on a flower, while Renata chose to paint a small poser of wildflowers including grasses.
  • Highly Commended was Amelie King (The Buckingham School) for her expressive watercolour of poppies and Akanksha Bathula (Royal Latin School) who drew a detailed study of lupins.

All the winning entries received Green Buckingham water bottles, donated by Buckinghamshire Recycles to support projects that encourage recycling and the protection of local green spaces.

Plans are in motion to create a display of the winning entries in Buckingham at the Old Goal Museum and Tourist Information Centre.

Adult Category

Young People Category

Thursday at the Fringe

 
Youth Project
This joint project between the Buckingham School and the Royal Latin School has been running for more than 10 years. The two schools come together to produce an evening of art and drama – this years theme is ‘Community’ and the students have been working to create an absorbing night open to all members of the project to enjoy.
Last year’s performance was highly rated by our Town Mayor who left a glowing review.
From 7pm tonight, 19th July, at the Buckingham School, Buckingham

Buckingham Acoustic Club regulars Safari Boots performing at Music in the Market 2018

Buckingham Acoustic Club

The Woolpack pub hosts Buckingham Acoustic Club in their front room. The club that has been running for more than 15 years and showcases an incredibly diverse group of performers; from local performers and songwriters that are just beginning their journey to semi-professional guitarists and singers.

From 8:30pm tonight , 19th July, at the Woolpack, Well Street, Buckingham