We were delighted to once again work with the children of Hebden Royd CofE Primary School in Hebden Bridge on this land art for World Environment Day. This time it was the idea of the eco councilors within the school who wanted to create something for World Environment Day. They are children within the school who are elected by their peers to represent their school and class to promote and educate around the issues of the environment. From creating information posters to litter picks and even an ice polar bear trail in the town, they are eager to design, plan and create all kinds of different projects. For this project ITV Calendar attended and the children were interviewed. This was a great opportunity for the children’s voices to be heard and for them to get the chance celebrate what they have created. The weather thankfully held off long enough to create this 30 metre earth land art. 1st day 4 of us from Sand In Your Eye created the design, the day 2 parents and volunteers helped with the workshops with the children, so every child had the opportunity to have their voice heard on the land art. Below is more information about the project. A big thank you to the school, the enthusiastic kids and the parents who all helped make this happen.
Children from Hebden Royd CofE Primary Eco-School created a gigantic painting of the earth on their school field for World Environment Day on the 5th June. The painting is to urge decision makers to make system changes to ensure they have a sustainable future.
This painting will then be the focus of an eco-fair picnic on the 7th June that has an open invitation to the community to attend with activities such as a forest school, nature hunt and solar karaoke. During this the children will declare a Climate Emergency.
Within the continents and oceans of the Earth painting, each child will wrote a personal message or drawing of how they would change the system so that human activities can sustain their future. A pupil called Flossy said “What I would like to see is for us to stop using single use plastic, and have a circular economy where packaging is re-used, just like using a milk bottle”.
Jamie Wardley from Sand In Your Eye, who helps organise the Eco-School at Hebden Royd CofE says “The Earth is 30m wide and has been painted with football pitch paint and will fade away in a few weeks. Parents helped by carrying the heavy backpacks full of paint whilst the children spray their messages.”
The school have been awarded Eco-School Status since 2023 for their environmental efforts.
Head teacher Rob Paton adds “Our job as educators is to give our kids the tools to become courageous advocates, so this teaches them that they can use their voice to take action and they can be a champion for a cause. It helps them develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills, and it empowers them to make a difference not only in their own lives but in the lives of others. Through our work as an eco-school we are developing future leaders and encouraging students to work together to build community.”
This isn’t the first time we have worked with the school. other projects include the portrait of Greta Thunberg for International Women’s Day and a bee for World Bee Day! It’s a great opportunity to work with the school about nature and the environment. The kids are open and ready to learn about all aspects of this and continue to develop their knowledge through the eco council.
