Monument is eggsactly the thing for Norton and Foxley (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Monument is eggsactly the thing for Norton and Foxley

11:20am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News By Tina Robins

A NEW landmark to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is already providing a home for wildlife in Norton and Foxley.

The Jubilee egg, a Cotswold stone monument created by local youngsters with the help of experts, was built with the help of a £1,500 grant from the Malmesbury Area Board.

Rob Hinwood, 18, who led the group, said: “The main aim was to get youngsters involved from Foxley and Norton and pretty much all of them did get involved in the workshops and activities we did.”

Local hedgelayer and conservationist Lloyd Howe and reptile expert Jon Cranfield were among the experts called on to teach the group about the wildlife that would make its home in the egg, which stands next to a bridleway between the villages.

The children also learned about the traditional arts of dry stone walling and stone masonry.

“It fits in really well with the landscape because it is local stone,” said Rob. “People have remarked that it already looks like it has been there for a few years.”

“We had a topping out ceremony and all the village turned out. It was really nice to see the whole community coming together for this egg.”

Charlie Harris, who also took part in the project agreed. “I just think it was an amazing thing to do to bring the community together. A lot of us didn’t have a clue about dry stone walling before.”

The monument has been strengthened with wire and contains a time capsule packed with little mementoes from the Queen’s jubilees.

And because the group was left with £500 change from the grant, there are plans to install a stone bench so walkers can rest while they admire the view.