We had an absolutely fantastic time, considering and choosing from the overwhelming volume and standard of wonderful artwork, reflecting nature in Warwickshire, created and submitted by local school children to the Alscot Biodiversity Art Competition.
In 2019 we started to discuss potential opportunities with local primary schools, positively engaging so that local children could benefit their environmental studies, from an involvement with Alscot. The Alscot Biodiversity Project site, lends itself as an ideal location for school activity days, whereby children can observe nature; wildlife, plant life, wetlands and natural meadowland, and integrate those practical findings within their classroom studies.
Running alongside the activity days, was the competition to create artwork that would represent the link between The Alscot Biodiversity Project and education. The competition ran throughout the pandemic, stopping and starting with the disruption of schools closing and home schooling being enforced. With biodiversity and climate change being high on the agenda in homes and schools, the motivation for such a hot topic continued, both by the teachers and the children, and we were thrilled with the overwhelming response. Six primary schools took part; Bridgetown, Ilmington, Newbold & Tredington, Alveston, The Croft and Stratford Primary, and over 285 pieces of art were submitted.
Alscot Park was decorated in array of colourful paintings and drawings, and the judging took place on Friday 11th June. The panel of four judges, James Fair – Wildlife reporter and journalist, Stephanie Matthews – Environmental Planning & Policy at Natural England, Hannah Young (standing in for Jacqui O’Hanlon) – RSC Actor and Associate Learning Practitioner and Emma Holman-West who heads biodiversity at Alscot, were hugely impressed by the children’s depth of passion for the subject of biodiversity, along with their understanding of the value of nature. The experts debated and deliberated carefully over the art, including all the prominent statements and messages being conveyed, carefully considering the brief; to create a logo, that represents nature and wildlife in Warwickshire. It was such an enjoyable project for us to be involved in and the judges described it as a pleasure and a heart-warming and uplifting experience, especially after a strange and difficult year.
The presentation of prizes took place at Alscot on 1st July 2021