Wildlife lover loans collection of stuffed birds to Macclesfield museum

Bird lovers are enjoying a rare opportunity to study a range of species at close-quarters. John Wratchford has loaned a collection of stuffed birds to a Cheshire museum. They include a nightingale, a Dartford warbler, a black redstart, wagtails, a bar-tailed godwit, a great grey shrike, a honey buzzard and a snow bunting. Mr Wratchford inherited the Victorian specimens from his grandparents 70 years ago. And now he has decided they deserve to be seen, and has loaned them to West Park Museum in Macclesfield. Mr Wratchford, a member of the RSPB for more than 60 years, said: "As a wildlife enthusiast the only way I like to preserve the birds I enjoy is using photography, but we have to remember that in Victorian times there was no television and people found different ways to entertain themselves. "I visit the West Park Museum from time to time and I thought it would be nice to let more people enjoy them." The birds have proved a big hit with visitors to the museum on Prestbury Road which has a permanent exhibition of work by wildlife illustrator Charles Tunnicliffe. The stuffed birds have been used as models for the museum’s Art In The Park programme which allows school children to sketch them. Carol Sadelaar, from West Park Museum, said: "We are thrilled to be able to use these birds to give pupils first-hand experience of the subjects they are drawing and would like to thank Mr Wratchford most sincerely for making this temporary loan to the museum.

John Wratchford with his grandparents’ collection of stuffed rare bird species, 

which he has loaned to West Park Museum in Macclesfield

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