Eco-friendly pupils inject colour into playground
A DRAB school playground has bloomed in a riot of colour after old parachutes, plastic and even shower curtains were used to create unique artwork.
It is just one of the many environmental projects which has secured Corneli Primary School in North Cornelly, near Porthcawl, Platinum Eco-School status.
Over the course of eight years, pupils and staff have worked to make it more environmentally friendly.
Now, having been awarded the coveted green flag four times by Keep Wales Tidy, they have celebrated becoming one of only a handful of schools to receive the top honour.
Class Three Foundation Phase teacher Danielle Harris has helped to organise the events.
She said: “The children applied for their roles as eco-committee members and we had two children representing every class.
“They have done lots of projects and delivered their own assemblies on key themes like Fairtrade Fortnight.”
Other themes included global citizenship, litter, waste, energy, water and school grounds.
Mrs Harris said: “They have picked a planter this year outside our school and have been helping Councillor Jeff Tildesley plant bulbs and weed it.
“They have also worked with Cornelly Scouts and invited them into our school to do work in our sensory garden.
“All the classes have done work towards it, so it’s a wonderful team effort.”
Artist Jan PoultneyMaddy, from Bethesda Arts, said every child in the school has contributed to brightening up the playground from drawing designs like Morgan Pritchard, whose octopus was painted on the playground concrete, or by using the recycled materials to weave flowers into the fence.
Parents and grandparents have even come along to help.
Eleven-year-old Sky Bodenham said: “We have spent about three days weaving the flowers into the fence.”
Even headteacher Adrian Mills dived in to help, salvaging driftwood from local beaches to make a special mount for the ecoschool’s plaque. He also oversaw the planting of an ornamental cherry tree as a lasting reminder of all that they have achieved.