Work donated by 300 wildlife artists is going on sale to help a Helston father fundraise for a charity supporting his terminally ill son.

Ian Griffiths, himself a wildlife artist, has been visiting Little Harbour children’s hospice with his nine-year-old son Thomas, who has a life-limiting condition affecting his digestive system, since it opened just under two years ago.

Before that Ian and his wife Lizzie, together with their 11-year-old daughter Alice, had to travel to Little Bridge House in Devon with Thomas.

With the “wonderful” facilities now on their doorstep, Ian hopes to help Children’s Hospice South West improve it even further by creating a wildlife area.

Ian said of Little Harbour: “We go several times a year – about six times since it opened. We need that support for Thomas and our piece of mind. It’s a place to build memories.”

He has begun a project called A Robin’s Song, incorporating a series of exhibitions and an auction, which will hopefully pay for habitats, nest boxes, feeding stations, a wildflower meadow and other features to attract wildlife to Little Harbour.

“As a full-time wildlife artist I know the life-enhancing benefits and pleasure that the natural world can bring to people of all ages – especially children. The song of a robin or the sight of butterflies amongst wild flowers can do so much.

“Unfortunately, although there is an abundance of wildlife in the area around Little Harbour, there is little in the grounds themselves or near the building, apart from a family of hares.

“Our aim is to enrich the time that children and families spend there by bringing wildlife closer to them,” he explained.

Half the donated artwork will go on sale at exhibitions between October 3 and 14 at Wheal Martyn China Clay Country Park, St Austell and between October 18 and 30 at Mr Griffith’s wildlife studio and gallery at 8 Church Street, Helston, which is open between 11am and 2pm each day. Prints will be available at the exhibitions for a suggested donation, starting from £2.50.

The remaining artwork, featuring original pieces, will be put up for auction on Sunday, November 3 at the Merchant House Hotel in Falmouth Road, Truro. The collection will be available to view from 1pm, with the auction beginning at 3pm.

All originals and other selected works will be auctioned with no reserve, with postal bids accepted.