How going cuckoo in Huddersfield will help throw the spotlight on endangered species

Huddersfield people urged to join in making a giant cuckoo to highlight the plight of endangered species

​People have been urged to get involved with a project to make a giant cuckoo in Huddersfield as part of a worldwide project to highlight endangered species.

On Saturday, May 22, 2021, people from all over the world will create images of endangered animals and plants using clothing donated by local communities. The giant images will be placed on the ground and photographed from the sky, bringing together a myriad of pictures from Taiwan to Brazil and from the USA to New Zealand.

The 20-metre x 20-metre image will be part of a global project called withNature2020 devised by British artist Emma K Thomas who came up with this idea in response to the extinction crisis. It has been developed by volunteers all over the world.

All the countries involved will be choosing an animal or plant at risk of extinction in their local area. In Kirklees, an image of the endangered cuckoo will be created in a field by young artists from The Children’s Art School which is based in Holmfirth.

Local individuals, communities and schools can get involved in donating items of clothing in the colours needed to complete the Kirklees Cuckoo by choosing one, or many squares, from a picture of the artwork. If you’d like to get involved, please email kirkleesdeclares@posteo.net using the subject heading withNature2020 or, alternatively, register for an information meeting in mid April.

A Zoom get together for schools and community groups interested in donating cloth and/or clothes to the Kirklees Cuckoo artwork will be held on Wednesday, April 14, from 4pm to 4.45pm.

To join the meeting, register by clicking here.