Village's future takes off

Feb 2 2010 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

THE little tern colony will be celebrated next month by the unveiling of a clifftop sculpture.

The steel sculpture of a little tern in the act of taking to the air has been commissioned from artist David Burmma by the Durham Heritage Coast Partnership.

It is sited at Beach Banks in Horden, where the partnership has been working to open up an area of the coast for use by local people.

Heritage coast officer Niall Benson said the sculpture both reflected the importance of the colony and also symbolised the “take off” of a new future for the former pit village.

The tern idea for the sculpture emerged from an exercise in which the partnership worked with local schools Yoden Primary, Cotsford Primary and Our Lady Star of the Sea.

Niall said: “The colony is becoming increasingly important although its fragility is something we are concerned about.

“But Trevor and the other volunteers do a great job in raising awareness among people.”