Fergus the Bustard is star of Wiltshire competition (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Fergus the Bustard is star of Wiltshire competition

1:57pm Tuesday 20th January 2009 in News By Gazette Reporter

Great Bustard Fergus has been showing off his plumage to become the latest star of an online competition marking the countdown to the new Wiltshire Council.

The competition launched on December 22, asked would-be photographers to come up with for images of numbers from 100 down to one to mark the 100 day transition to the new council that comes into existence on April 1.

David Waters, who runs the Wiltshire based charity which is reintroducing the Great Bustard to its Salisbury Plain habitat hit on the idea of using Fergus and his orange 21 wing tag as his entry.

Fergus is no stranger to publicity - he has appeared on television many times – his latest was just this week on BBC’s One Show. And his appearance in the Wiltshire Council competition is particularly appropriate – the bustard is part of the council’s crest which is used for ceremonial purposes.

The 100 Day Countdown has attracted almost 300 entries including door signs, bus destinations, licence plates, football shirts and even crop circles. The competition will have three winners – the first will be drawn later this month. Prizes of iPods have been funded by Chippenham company Fleet Support Group.

The competition is just a small part of raising awareness of the new council across the county. On April 1 the county’s current five councils will be replaced by just one – the new Wiltshire Council - cutting confusion and costs.

Information roadshows will be held throughout February and March in towns across Wiltshire, messages are going out in all emails and franking messages on correspondence, and there will be exhibitions in libraries. More information about the changes are available via the link on the right.

Entries to the competition can be made by visiting the council's website via the link on the right where the entry form is on the home page or by visiting the Wiltshire Council Facebook page via the link on the right.

Jane Scott who is chairman of the Implementation Executive that is responsible for the transition to the new council said: “It is highly appropriate Fergus the Great Bustard has flown in to join our countdown to the new council. This competition is proving very popular with Fergus just one of around 300 images people have submitted so far. It’s a great way of helping raise awareness of Wiltshire Council,” she said.