Telephone cabinet highlights dwindling curlew numbers

Schoolchildren near Newtown have been doing their bit for the community by brightening up a drab telephone cabinet.

The pupils from Ysgol Dyffryn Trannon learned about curlews and the importance of farmland habitats before working with local artist Valentine Kuhl to design and paint a colourful mural on the Openreach cabinet in Trefeglwys.

The ground-nesting curlew is Britain’s largest wading bird, known for its distinct ‘bubbling’ call and long beak. Sadly, Wales’ curlew population is declining by 6% per year, according to GWCT Curlew Connections, with whom the project was delivered in partnership.

Jodie Griffith, Powys Project Officer at Keep Wales Tidy said: "The curlew population has declined dramatically in recent years. By transforming this otherwise ordinary cabinet into a work of art, we hope to raise awareness of the threats facing curlews and inspire people to take action to protect them.

"I’d like to thank our partners and the brilliant Ysgol Dyffryn Trannon eco-committee who showed incredible creativity and enthusiasm.”The UK Government funds the initiative through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Keep Wales Tidy are working alongside Carmarthenshire County Council to eradicate litter and waste.

A member of Ysgol Dyffryn Trannon’s eco-committee said:

“It has been really good fun to work with Keep Wales Tidy and learn about curlews in our community.”

The Trefeglwys mural is the latest in a series of artworks created through the Caru Powys initiative and the BT Openreach cabinet art project.

Caru Powys is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.