THE future looks bright for the birds of Parson Drove – they’re going to have a lot more places to nest and feed in the years ahead.

More than 50 colourful bird boxes and feeders are set to be put in place round the village in private gardens and other public spaces. And the pupils at Payne Primary School are among those our feathered friends have to thank – the children have been responsible for adding the finishing touches.

Their efforts are the culmination of a project that has involved the village’s Green Communities and Street Pride members and HOPE Social Enterprises, part of the Luminus housing group.

“It’s a great example of all sorts of different people coming together to do something simple and imaginative to benefit the local community,” said Jeanette Milner, Fenland District Council’s Street Pride coordinator.

The joint project stemmed from a chance meeting at last summer’s Green Communities fair in the village, at which Luminus had a stand.

Roger Reader, chairman of the parish council and a Street Pride member, got talking to Barry Lynch, who works for HOPE. He agreed to donate a car-load of the bird boxes and feeders to the village as a free gift. Mr Reader did some repairs before passing them all on to Payne.

Chan Abraham, chief executive of the Luminus Group, said: “In 2011, our year of ‘Rescuing Dreams and Reviving Aspirations’, it is excellent to see HOPE employees encouraging young people to care for the environment and change the world for the better where we are.”

The good work in Parson Drove continues this Monday (May 23) with a free giveaway courtesy of Donarbon. From 10am on the village green villagers can help themselves to free soil conditioner: bring a shovel and a container.