You could say the scale of a Suffolk young people’s project befits the scale of the environmental problem it is highlighting in a most imaginative and creative way - and the word “scale” would be entirely appropriate as the initiative features hundreds of fish.
Marine pollution is one of the greatest scourges that afflicts the planet. It is devastating wildlife on a vast scale and its damaging effects can be seen locally on the East Anglian coast, around the shores of Britain and Europe and on the beaches and strandlines in every country that is not landlocked.
It is the environmental issue that has been chosen as the theme for this year’s Suffolk Waste Partnership young people’s initiative linked to the forthcoming Suffolk Show.
Hundreds of Suffolk youngsters have been busy making cardboard cut-out fish, from tiny tiddlers to marine monsters, to create a “Great Suffolk Shoal” that will be featured at the entrance to the partnership’s interactive marquee - stand blue 242 - during the show at Trinity Park, Ipswich, on May 31 and June 1.
The project has been led by Caroline Fish - who is so passionately involved in the venture that she gamely endures any amount of leg-pulling about her surname in relation to the initiative. Ms Fish, Suffolk County Council’s waste team service development officer, said: “We needed to come up with another good idea to meet the high bar set last year by the fabulous display at the partnership’s marquee which involved many schoolchildren decorating old wellies.
“We found that having schools involved and doing something that was really fun and colourful on the outside of the marquee was a great way to get people to take a look inside and become engaged with what the partnership is all about.
“This year about 20 schools and other groups have helped us make the ‘Great Suffolk Shoal’ and they have provided about 900 fish made from cardboard.”
The youngsters had shown great enthusiasm for the project and had come up with a dazzling array of designs. “After the wellies theme last year was such a success it’s been wonderful to continue the Suffolk Waste Partnership’s great relationship with schools this year,” said Ms Fish.
“Marine pollution really is a big issue and it is one that the young people are very concerned about. The schools and other groups involve a wide range of ages and there is a wide geographic spread across Suffolk. The message we want to get across is that it is important to put your waste in the right place so it doesn’t end up in the wrong place and become a danger to our environment and wildlife - in particular marine life which is especially at risk from plastics.”
One of the schools that have been enthusiastically involved in the “Great Suffolk Shoal” project is Debenham High School. A statement from the school said it was committed to helping its pupils become responsible citizens and to “look after the world around them.”
One aspect of such an ethos was effective recycling - and the school’s art teachers were “always actively recycling” as “everything can be a treasure in the art room.”
The school was “delighted” to take part in the partnership’s 2017 Suffolk Show marine pollution initiative, and its pupils were “glad to be part of an exhibition to raise awareness of the importance of recycling.”
Suffolk Waste Partnership partners present in the show marquee will include Suffolk Master Composters, FCC Environment, the Benjamin Foundation, Viridor, SUEZ (formerly SITA) and the Suffolk Fly-Tipping Action Group.
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