Housebuilder Bovis Homes, part of Vistry Yorkshire, has teamed up with Junction Arts, a Chesterfield based arts charity, to create a variety of artistically designed birdboxes at its Brimington Heights development.
Junction Arts commissioned artists, Adrian Riley and Annabel McCourt are leading the project, which will see clusters of birdboxes placed around the development site to provide refuge for local birdlife, as well as acting as creative markers for connections with existing public footpaths and rights of way.
In November last year, Adrian and Annabel brought in a third artist, Iona Calvert to work closely with children from Brimington Junior School, involving them in the creative process of being public artists. Pupils from the school spent four days coming up with designs for the exteriors of the birdboxes. Etched on poles supporting the birdboxes will also be quotes from the schoolchildren about the things they value about ‘home’.
Following close advice from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, the birdboxes will come in a variety of different sizes, materials and colours to encourage diversity of bird species, and will be strategically located throughout the development to draw the eye across the various vistas of the area.
The initial plan is for 40 bird boxes to be placed throughout the Brimington Heights development, with the potential for more to come in later stages. Additional artwork created by Adrian and Annabel will also be showcased throughout the site at various locations.
Adrian Riley, said, “We loved working with the children at Brimington Junior School. Over four days they played with pattern, colour and words, made up birdsong, invented new names for colours and sounds and explored what home meant to them, which resulted in some great ideas.
“Their enthusiasm, creativity and humour will help bring the birdbox artworks to life and create something that’s both visually engaging and of benefit to local wildlife. We also hope the boxes will encourage local people to walk the re-opened public footpaths to view the work. They’re intended to bring joy to everyone who encounters them.”
Louise Graham, sales manager at Brimington Heights said: “Bovis Homes strives to work with local communities to gain their valuable input in shaping and enhancing each of our developments. These community partnerships are incredibly important to us and demonstrate our company culture, underpinned by our values, of ‘building better together’.
“It’s been wonderful working with the Brimington schoolchildren and using their creative enthusiasm to help bring the birdbox project to life. The values the children placed on the meaning of ‘home’, and what ‘home’ means to them were particularly insightful and are just the values that we plan to instill within the Brimington Heights development for our buyers as they make their new property a home, and the new development, a neighbourhood.”
“Brimington Heights is in such a beautiful location, this is the perfect project to both cater for local wildlife and enhance the natural spaces within the development for our residents.”
The Brimington Heights development includes a number of other ecological enhancements, such as a native hedgerow that has been planted along the northern boundary of the site, providing a landscaping buffer as well as a feeding corridor for wildlife.
Brimington Heights comprises 150 three, four and five-bedroom homes, and provides options for those stepping onto the property ladder for the very first time, growing young families needing a bit more space, as well as those looking for a place to downsize after children have flown the nest.
Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
