Mark Todd

A £6,400 bird sanctuary created by a group of villagers is to be officially opened by Mark next Friday (Oct 5)

Findern Footpaths Group, which was set up in 1997 to look after seven miles of public rights of way in the Findern area, has created Cote Close Bird Sanctuary at
a piece of land next to the A50.

A mixture of tree and shrub species have been planted at the sanctuary to attract birds and other wildlife.

The group received a £6,400 lottery grant in the summer to set up the sanctuary and hopes to organise school trips and walks for villagers and other interested people.

Originally the field was used as farm land but was sold to the Highways Agency to make way for the A50.

The group managed to get the land for a peppercorn rent after Mark  intervened.

Mark, who will be opening the sanctuary, said: "Findern Footpaths Group has been highly successful in both maintaining a rights of way network and extending its use. I'm delighted to have been involved in this latest project. Their work is very much a model for other villages, showing what can be done with limited resources but a lot of enthusiasm."

The group has previously planted new woodland, restored two ponds and one wetland site, sown two wildflower areas and created Stanhope Hole Conservation Area.

Group member Liz Froggatt said: "We are delighted to have had the opportunity to create this area which will compliment our other sites to attract a wide diversity of wildlife.'

Chairman of South Derbyshire District Council Mick Bale plus vice-chairman Ann Hood will be at the event as well as the Findern Historical Society, Findern Parish Council and villagers.

To visit the sanctuary, walkers should set off from Lower Green into Commonpiece Lane , taking the right hand fork. Then continue along a rough piece of track for about 100 yds and the site is on the right. The sanctuary is 0.5miles from Lower Green.

For more information visit the group's website www.findernfootpathsgroup.org/projects.

See photo gallery for pictures of the event