Otter Wey Community Art Project

Community news :   20 - 09 - 18

This year marks our 25th anniversary and to celebrate we chose to support the Otter Wey Community Art Project, helping to raise funds for local charities. We decided to support the initiative as it was launched to raise funds for two local charities that are close to our hearts – Woodlarks Centre and the Brightwells Gostrey Centre.

Director Andrew Lodge said: “I established the firm in 1993 and over the years we have achieved so much. I have a wonderful team, we are recognised by the British Property Awards as Farnham’s leading agent this year, we have a fantastic client base and many wonderful local contacts and partner companies who we value very much.

“We have supported many local community groups and projects including Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care, Breast Cancer Care, Lions Club of Farnham, Farnham Maltings, Farnham Institute Charity Alice Holt Races, Farnham Town Council, The Rural Life Centre and many more.

“Supporting the Otter Wey Community Art Project provided the ideal opportunity for us to celebrate our 25th anniversary as we were able to decorate and display an otter in our window and now he has become our office mascot. A local artist designed, and hand painted our beautiful otter taking inspiration from the town, with a focus on The Lion and Lamb. The otters attracted many visitors to the town and when auctioned off they raised a super amount for the charities.”

The Otter Wey was an art trail made up of 1 metre tall model otters, which were decorated by participants and exhibited around Farnham. The trail was inspired by Mike Hodge who was the Mayor of Farnham 2017/18, and was run by Blooming Art, supported by Farnham Town Council and sponsored by Farnham Lions. 44 otters were produced for the trail and were on display in May and June.

Late summer, they were auctioned off at Farnham castle, helping to raise £25,000 for The Woodlarks Centre and the Brightwells Gostrey Centre.

Mr Hodge said: “I am absolutely delighted that the auction was such a resounding success and I am thrilled that through the generosity of bidders at the auction and sponsors of the whole initiative we were able to raise more than £25,000 from the Otter Wey Community Art Project. I am profoundly grateful to everyone involved for making the project such a success, and to the people of Farnham who so warmly embraced and supported it.”