Kids see what's in the sea without getting wet!
Over 1,500 primary school children across Kent will be discovering the secrets of the deep without leaving the safety of their schools – thanks to Dover based cross channel ferry company SeaFrance and the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).
Children were challenged to create a sea monster, made from the things they’d normally throw away, to highlight the amount of litter found on our beaches every year.
SeaFance, who sponsor the annual MCS Beachwatch programme, which mobilses thousands of volunteers across the UK to clean hundreds of beaches, paid for nine MCS Cool Seas Roadshows as a prize for each winning school.
MCS Corporate Fundraiser, Kat Stephenson, says the winners are in for a real treat: “The Cool Seas Roadshow is an amazing interactive spectacle that takes the secrets of our oceans and seas into the classroom. It brings life size inflatable models of sharks, minke whales and dolphins into the school to show pupils just how cool our UK seas are. The children learn all about marine conservation and what they can do to help look after our seas, including the terrible impacts of litter on wildlife.”
Kat says they were really impressed by the thought that had gone into some of the entries: “SeaFrance and MCS have been really amazed at some of the ideas, from a sea serpent called Lily Chilly to a monster called Speedo Spike, made out of everything from cardboard to plastic.
MCS is once again delighted to be working alongside SeaFrance, who have generously given over £4,000 to pay for the Cool Seas Roadshows at the winning schools.”
“Some of the entries were from whole classes, whilst others were just from small groups of children. But to a child they had really taken the litter theme on board and showed a real understanding of how damaging marine litter is to us and to wildlife.”
Alicia Adams, Skye Kerr, Lauren Bennett, all aged 8, won a Cool Seas Roadshow for Murston Junior School in Sittingbourne by creating Ollie the Octopus: “We enjoyed making him a lot. We think that litter on beaches is very bad. It can harm animals. It doesn't look very nice and it makes us feel sad. It's not nice finding rubbish in the sand when you are trying to make sandcastles. We all recycle at home and school, and we think everyone else should.”
Yasemin and Ellis Mehmet, aged 10 will see the Roadshow visit their school, Sundridge & Brasted CE Primary School, near Sevenoaks, after they came up with a frightening octopus called Black: “We made him out of a black bag and sprinkled tea on him, and I painted his eyes” said Yasemin.
Robin Wilkins, SeaFrance Managing Director, says they’re delighted to be helping children in the county get a real understanding of the marine litter issue in such a fun way: “It’s vital for the future of our planet that we get this message across to the next generation, and it’s great to be able to do so in a way which is creative and informative.”
The winning schools are: Leeds and Broomfield, Murston Junior – Sittingbourne, More Park Catholic – West Malling, Vigo Village, Rolvendon – Cranbrook, Morehall- Folkestone, Birchington, Sundridge and Brasted, Southborough Primary – Bromley
