Groundwork NE & Cumbria, working with the Ocean Youth Trust North (OYTN), has helped local school children make plain sailing out of recycling.
School pupils from Parkhead Primary School, West Blaydon Primary School and West Winlaton Primary School learned about the impacts of marine pollution during a trip along the Tyne aboard the training boat, James Cook.
The children then put the lessons into practice with a workshop, led by Groundwork, which focussed on turning waste plastic and bottle tops into stunning pieces of art to prevent it entering the eco-system.
In addition to the educational element of the visit, it was also a chance for the children to meet their potential classmates as they move to secondary education in September.
Wendy Fail, Visitor and Education Centre Coordinator for Groundwork NE & Cumbria, said: “It has been fantastic to work on such a unique project with the children and Ocean Youth Trust North.
“Marine pollution is a pressing issue, which affects us all, so it’s important that the next generation learn from a young age how they can prevent contributing to the damage. Taking pupils out of the classroom and giving them a unique educational experience is a great way to get them to engage with the topic.
“An estimated 1.27 to 2.66 million metric tons of plastic waste enters rivers annually, accounting for around one-fifth of the 5 trillion pieces of plastic, which are currently polluting the ocean.
“Although the effects of marine pollution in areas such as the Caribbean are well known and publicised, we also need to look closer to home and the damage it causes to our own native fauna and flora. I hope that we have inspired some of these youngsters to take an interest in protecting their local environment.”
Andy Reed, Ocean Youth Trust North’s Skipper for the James Cook, said: “Our mission statement is changing lives and inspiring futures. We’re working with primary schoolchildren in conjunction with Groundwork to give them an understanding of wider issues that affect the planet and future generations in an engaging and thought-provoking way.”