Duck boards make a splash
Posted on 20 August 2008
Now, thanks to the generosity of the University’s former students, the task of identifying the bewildering variety of birds attracted to campus has been made easier.
The York Annual Fund is especially glad to provide support for projects like this that really encourage people to visit campus
Susie Fothergill
Staff, students and visitors of all ages will be able to spot the 24 different species that have been identified in the area, with the help of five new display boards erected around the lake during summer. Among the first to take advantage of the new feature were two-year-olds Leyla and Hussein from the Campus Nursery.
The boards, featuring original watercolours by Yorkshire artist, David Binns, provide a pictorial and educational guide to a much-loved feature of the Campus. They replace older boards that have come to the end of their useful life.
The watercolours were commissioned by June Hargreaves about 10 years ago, but the subsequent establishment of Black Swans in the campus community of wildfowl meant that David Binns had to provide an additional watercolour. A grant of £4,500 from alumni gifts to the York Annual Fund paid for the new boards.
The University’s Fundraising Programmes Manager, Susie Fothergill said: "The Fund is especially glad to provide support for projects like this that really encourage people to visit campus. Our ducks are a draw particularly for families, and the board situated close to Central Hall is fixed at toddler level, so everyone can see it."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Photocall details: 11.15am Wednesday 20 August 2008. Children from the Campus Nursery with one of the new signs. Photographers should report to Heslington Hall Reception at 11.00am and ask for Alice Jenkins.