New competition aims to inspire children in Sussex to care for the environment during half term

Children are being challenged to design an environmentally aware poster or make an eco-sculpture from litter and discarded objects during the coming half-term holiday.
Half Term Nature 2 SUS-200522-092734001Half Term Nature 2 SUS-200522-092734001
Half Term Nature 2 SUS-200522-092734001

And there are 16 prizes of £150 to be won.

The competition, which has the theme of Clean Up and Create a Bright New Future, has been made possible thanks to a grant from The Boltini Trust, Sussex Green Living and the South Downs National Park Trust, which is the official charity of South Downs National Park.

It is open to 5-16 year olds in Sussex.

Half Term Nature 1 SUS-200522-092639001Half Term Nature 1 SUS-200522-092639001
Half Term Nature 1 SUS-200522-092639001

Julie Fawcett, Chair of the South Downs National Park Trust, said: “A key focus for the South Downs National Park Trust is to engage young people with this amazing natural asset on their doorstep with all its beautiful landscapes and wildlife.

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“This competition offers a great way for children to get creative and think about ways we can conserve and enhance our environment in the years ahead. Young people are the future custodians of national gems such as the South Downs and this is a fantastic way to inspire them”

The aim is to encourage young people to design some artwork with a powerful message to raise awareness of the environment and represent the theme of a bright new future they want for the world.

There are two categories to choose from in each age group: Firstly, an eco-art sculpture - using litter, recycling and unwanted items, the focus of the creation and thought-provoking message is the children’s choice. There is no size limit; secondly a poster – youngsters can use litter if they wish but not compulsory. Once again, the focus of the poster and message are up to the children but it must portray either challenges to the environment and/or solutions. There is no size limit.

Inspiration for a bright new future could include littering, climate change, ocean plastic, being “green” at home or at school, sustainable changes you would like your village or town to adopt and so on.

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Or perhaps staying at home has motivated children to imagine the world they want to live in. They may have been moved by the news of the massive drop in air pollution or the clips of wild animals wandering through the world’s towns and cities in recent weeks. They may also be doing things differently during the lockdown that reduces their family’s carbon footprint. The choice is theirs.

The competition closes on July 10.

Carrie Cort from Sussex Green Living said: “The pause in our lives has given everyone the opportunity to reflect and learn how quickly nature recovers when there’s less human activity. We hope this competition will encourage young people to use their imaginations to engage with nature and the environment.”

Additional information, promotional posters, the entry form and learning resources can be found at www.sussexgreenliving.co.uk/environmental-education-for-lockdown-victims/. You can also contact Carrie on [email protected] if you have any queries.

Sussex Green Living (SGL) is an environmental awareness and education charity run by volunteers for the community. Its mission is to make the world a better place by educating and inspiring people to take action to protect our planet and share practical ideas about how to live more sustainably.

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To join the network of volunteers and supporters or learn more about all SGL schemes, visit www.sussexgreenliving.co.uk.