A group of volunteers from St Augustine's, Kirkby in Cleveland were inspired by the Diocesan Caring for Creation initiative, and indeed by the hoots of a local Barn Owl, to provide a home for the owl or perhaps one of its relatives in the churchyard.

With the support of the Vicar and PCC, they arranged the construction of a Barn Owl Box in the hope that someone suitable might go to nest in it.

A Methodist Family from the village obtained the specification for a Barn Owl Box (it is different from a standard owl box) and made it using wood kindly supplied by a local builders' merchants. The box was dedicated in a special service on January 23rd by Green Ambassador for the Diocese of York the Revd Jan Nobel and is to be put up by a tree surgeon who operates within the village.

The local school has had a huge response to a competition to produce work about Barn Owls- whether written, art or craft using ideas kindly supplied by the Barn Owl Trust, and prizes will be awarded for the best entries.

The picture shows some of the family who made the box, Vicar the Revd Dr Anne Heading, the Revd Jan Nobel and representatives of the team who had the idea.