Plastic waste photo wins top title for youngsters
A Stirling school has won a national award for highlighting the effects of plastic pollution on marine life.
Drymen Primary took first prize in the photography category of theYoung Reporters Competition 2019, run by Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Using plastic waste generated from school lunches over five days, P7 pupils created four marine creatures which are vulnerable to plastic in Scottish waters.
Called `We eat from it, we survive. They eat it, they die’, the artwork is designed to demonstrate the extent of plastic pollution in coastal and marine areas and show children at the school the amount of plastic they were using at lunchtime.
It is also aimed at educating others on the subject, making people stop and think about the devastating consequences of their permanent plastic footprint.
Their powerful piece of imagery saw Drymen come out on top, not only in the 11-14 photographic category of the nationwide competition but also in the overall category – open to those aged between eight and 24.
Prizes included a Go Pro Camera, which will support the development of reporting and film making skills across the curriculum.
Headteacher Elisabeth Olbrich said: “The children’s creative use of a week’s worth of school lunch plastic is inspiring and thought provoking and will hopefully change attitudes and practices.”
Pupils had been inspired by a workshop provided by Young Reporters Scotland which addressed the effects of plastic pollution, particularly on marine creatures.