A GIANT bird has taken up residence in a park, but there's no fear of the feathered friend taking flight -- it is made of steel!

Snowy the crow has made her home on top of a tall beech tree stump next to the cycle-way in Blackburn's Witton Park.

Snowy was commissioned by Blackburn with Darwen Council to celebrate bird life in the park and the fact that it is such valuable countryside next to a large urban sprawl.

The tree where Snowy proudly nests 20ft up was killed by a bolt of lightning a few years ago and was the ideal location for the sculpture.

But the council said it had taken steps to make sure lightning will not strike twice.

Rob Howell, in charge of community art at the council, said: "We have been very careful to choose its location and did check to make sure the bird would not make the tree more prone to being struck by lightning again.

"We have been assured it won't."

London-based artist John Fortnum was called in to work on the project -- part of the £12,000 Park Arts 2001 scheme -- which has already seen John work with schools and community groups in Mill Hill to do a mass sailing on the Leeds and Liverpool canal in September.

He will also work with a women's group from Darwen to make some paving for Grainings Wood on Bull Hill.

The £12,000 cost was secured by the council's regeneration department from a national art grant scheme.

Snowy is made of steel with a waxed finish. The stump had to be levelled and a large hole bored down into it.

The hole was then lined and contains a bearing and some oil to allow Snowy to move in the direction of the wind.

Although her lesser friends may have been able to nimbly perch themselves on the tree top, the bird, who was made at the visitor's centre in the park, had to be carefully positioned with the help of a mobile crane.

Snowy is the latest addition to the growing catalogue of quality public art in Blackburn with Darwen that also includes the Grandmother and Grandson on the Boulevard, which recently had its arm restored after being hacked off by vandals.

The executive member for leisure and culture at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Coun Kate Hollern, said: "We are delighted to release yet another piece of public art for visitors to Witton Country Park to enjoy.

"We are especially pleased with this latest exhibit as it involved our artist in residence working with schools and community groups from the area."

The official unveiling will take place at a future date with Coun Hollern and the artist.