YOU won't need binoculars to spot the birds that have made Croome Court, near Pershore, their home.

Four Midlands-based artists, with the help of a local primary school and funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, designed the plumage of eight golden pheasants which now adorn the trees in National Trust-owned Croome park.

Eight fibreglass birds, each more than two metres long, have been created by craftsman Will Datson and situated all around the parkland.

Tom Bennett, Croome’s creative director, said: "I initially saw the work of these four artists at last year’s New Art West Midlands show. Each artist had a very distinct visual style which I thought would work very well on this project to give the birds unique designs. As part of Croome’s ‘new talent’ drive to work with up-coming artists and designers as the 6th Earl of Coventry did in the 18th century, four artists — Sharon Farrelly, Lucy Hutchinson, Santhanha Nguyen and James Birkin — were commissioned to decorate the plumage with colourful, historical references, taking their meaning from events and stories at Croome over the centuries."

Barbara St. John, the second wife of the 6th Earl of Coventry, shared the Earl’s enthusiasm and passion for animals and plants and developed a menagerie in Croome’s grounds.

In the menagerie she kept rare birds, including silver and golden pheasants, parrots, mandarin ducks and Chinese geese.

Each artist also spent a day with pupils from St Barnabas School in Drakes Broughton, and incorporated the children’s ideas into their second design for the remaining birds.

Visitors can spot all eight birds during their walk around Croome’s parkland.

Those who feel like being more adventurous can climb to the top of the scaffolding at the court to get a birds-eye view of the colourful creatures.

For more information on Croome and it's opening times, call 01905 371006 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croome.