Schoolchildren finds words to express hopes of a better world

Local schoolchildren have been imagining a better world in letters as part of an international campaign, with the help of an award-winning arts company based in Bath.

Since 2019, Letters to the Earth, an initiative created by Culture Declares Emergency, has inspired thousands, including children as young as three through to great-grandparents, scientists, politicians, teachers, nurses, writers and artists such as Yoko Ono (inset), to put pen to paper and express their fears, visions and hopes for the future, in response to the climate and nature crisis.

People worldwide have been sharing their messages via text, picture, song, drawing and video using the hashtag #Letterstotheearth.

Local Arts company Kilter, in conjunction with Culture Declares Emergency, has been running workshops with children at Abbot Alphege Academy, Bathampton Primary School and St Andrews C of E Primary School to help children imagine a better world in letters they have written to the Earth. Olly Langdon, one of the directors of Kilter, ran the workshops in all three schools. He said: “I was completely overwhelmed by the clear-sighted vision of the children involved. “The solutions to the crisis exist in abundance and the children are well versed in them but nowhere else do you see such enthusiasm and commitment to making the change and making the planet and everyone and everything on it happier and healthier long into the future.”

In celebration of the imagination and hope children have, a selection of the letters will be showcased in the window of 21/22 Milsom Place, Milsom Street A selection of the letters will also be read out in The Egg cafe at Theatre Royal Bath as audiences gather for the Christmas shows. The letters will also be shared with MPS local to the schools, Wera Hobhouse and Jacob Rees Mogg. Kilter’s Letters to the Earth are supported with funding from Bath & West Community Energy Grant.