Durrell, Badlabecques, and Le Rocquier School Harmonise for Jersey’s Birdlife

Badlabecques annonchent:

Durrell, Badlabecques, and Le Rocquier School Harmonise for Jersey’s Birdlife

Durrell have commissioned local band Badlabecques to record a song with students from Le Rocquier School, to celebrate the new aviary at Le Don Paton, near Sorel Point, on Jersey’s north coast.

The aviary is part of the ‘Birds On The Edge’ project, which is a collaboration between Durrell, The National Trust for Jersey, and the States of Jersey Department of Environment, supporting the active management of Jersey’s coastland to restore habitats and bring back the red-billed chough to the Island.

The song itself is based on a 1934 Jèrriais poem by Frank Le Maistre, which was set to music by Norman French band Magène and adapted by Badlabecques with the help of local poet Geraint Jennings. Titled “Ma Bouais’sie” (My Wood) it evokes walking through Egypt Woods in Trinity and hearing all the birds singing together.

The team at Durrell wanted the song to be an educational project, as well as a piece of community art so they are pleased that Le Rocquier School students are involved. Rick Jones, Communications Officer says:

“Durrell are delighted that as well as cultural history, Badlabecques are promoting a love of natural history, and taking it to the younger generation. Jersey’s heritage is interwoven with its landscapes, and ‘Birds on the Edge’ will restore and protect natural areas of the Island’s beautiful coastal regions for posterity. What better way to celebrate this, than to give it an authentic soundtrack!”

Phillip Slater, Head Teacher at Le Rocquier School says:
“Recently at Le Rocquier we have been focussing on the importance of Jersey’s native language, Jèrriais, as well as our natural history.  Above the entrance to our hall we have placed our school motto “Our School, Our Education, Our Future” in Jèrriais.  We are also developing Jèrriais extra curricular classes and we have also been looking to encourage the speaking, and indeed singing, of Jèrriais in as many ways as possible.”
Kit Ashton, founder and lead singer of Badlabecques is also proud of the song:
“This is exactly what Badlabecques is all about as a band – celebrating our beautiful island, our heritage, and our community through music that is hopefully both entertaining and meaningful. I love it!”

“Ma Bouais’sie” will be released on Good Friday, 29th March, as a free download via the band’s website: www.badlabecques.net

Birds on the Edge is a long-term collaboration between the States of Jersey Department of the Environment, National Trust for Jersey and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust to protect and restore Jersey’s coastland habitats for the island’s wildlife and people to enjoy.