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Celebrities' turtles star in London art trail

Tusk Turtle Trail Ronnie Wood takes a selfie in front of his turtle, which is orange, red and yellow on the shell. Tusk Turtle Trail
Tusk Turtle Trail Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett paint their turtle in a studioTusk Turtle Trail
Ronnie Wood isn't just a musician - he's a classically trained artist who studied at Ealing Art College. The Rolling Stones guitarist's turtle is just off Regent Street
Bob the turtle was designed and sponsored by Dragons' Den stars Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett

A trail of life-sized turtle sculptures has been placed around central London, to raise awareness of marine conservation issues.

The Tusk Turtle Trail takes visitors to 16 locations, including Covent Garden, Carnaby Street, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and the top of The Shard.

African wildlife conservation charity Tusk has worked with a number of celebrities to design the street art installations, including Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and Dragons' Den dragons Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett.

The trail features stories that highlight the reasons why ocean conservation is needed.

Meaden said: "We see wildlife on land, and it triggers emotion: it is visible, tangible, and easy to connect with.

"The ocean is too often out of mind, and yet it is the beating heart of our planet - the force that sustains all life forms.

"If the ocean dies, so does the planet. It's that simple, and that urgent."

Tusk Turtle Trail Map of central London, showing the trail Tusk Turtle Trail
Visitors can download a map to find the turtles, or it can be viewed via Google Maps

The trail's organisers described it as a "vibrant public art exhibition highlighting the urgent need to protect our oceans and endangered sea turtles".

The sculptures will stay in place until September, before they are auctioned off through Tusk to raise funds for marine conservation.

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