ONE of the country’s leading wildlife artists is returning this month to exhibit his work at Belfairs Woodland Centre.

Essex Wildlife Trust’s Belfairs Woodland Centre is thrilled to be hosting an exhibition of woodlandthemed work by Joel Kirk over the weekend of October 17 and 18.

Joel last exhibited at the centre in December 2014.

Mr Kirk is local to the area. He studied at Southend College of Art, before working with Virginia McKenna for the Born Free Foundation and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

This year people have the chance to win one of his highly-prized original paintings. To celebrate his exhibition at Belfairs Woodland Centre, Joel has kindly donated a beautiful painting of dormice for Essex Wildlife Trust to raffle.

For a chance to own this original artwork, please call the Woodland Centre on 01702 477467 or email belfairs@essexwt.org.uk.

Raffle tickets are £1 each or £5 for a book of five. the drawwill be made on Sunday 18 October, in the Woodland Centre. Every penny raised will go to support local wildlife charities, half to Essex Wildlife Trust and half to Southend Dormouse Group.