09/05/12….’Des.res’ in totem pole available in Chinnor

CHILDREN from the local Community of Chinnor, gathered at Mill Lane Schoolin the village, to celebrate their
hard work in making their very own Wildlife Totem Pole. Now they just have to wait for local wildlife to take up residence!

Late last year, pupils from the school’s Time Out Holiday Club worked together to create the Totem using clay. Now standing in the school?s wildlife area called Gruff Land, the clay Totem Pole is decorated with animals and plants that can be found in the area.

Not just a piece of art!

The children worked hard to add nest holes, and nooks and crannies for local wildlife to inhabit. James Ort, manager at The Phoenix Studio, Towersey, worked with the students to make the Totem. ?We have some clay totems at the Studio,” he said. “One of which had a family of blue tits nesting at the top. It got me thinking that it would be great for the children to copy this. The project not only taught them how to work with clay but also about ecosystems and the niches that animals inhabit. It was also great fun!?

Mill Lane?s Totem has a rather magnificent Red Kite at the top of it, made by Finley March, who explained what he got out of being involved: ?I enjoyed making the clay models. The reason I chose a red kite was because you can see them everywhere in Chinnor. One day I’d like to visit the Phoenix studio and make another model with clay.”