Sculptures by north Norfolk children highlight amount of rubbish discarded on district’s beaches

A group of Norfolk school children have taken on an unusual project to highlight the amount of litter left on beaches.

Following a litter pick organised by North Norfolk District Council, pupils from Sheringham Primary School worked with artist Kate Munro, the school's head of art Becky Robinson and a team of parent helpers to create designs for a marine-themed sculpture due to be unveiled at Sheringham Museum on May 7 at 2pm.

After going on show at the Blue Flag Awards ceremony at Cromer Pier on May 17, the finished piece will go on a tour of the district's beaches as part of NNDC's summer holiday Blue Flag beach events, before going on permanent display at Sheringham Primary School.

Ms Munro, who has worked on commissions for clients including Cromer Hospital, the London College of Fashion, Addenbrooks Hospital and Holt Country Park, said the children's designs would be incorporated into the larger sculpture.

'I think they have responded brilliantly to the project,' she added. 'They have really taken the message on board and they have had such a wide range of materials that they have had to work out their own ideas.'

Mrs Robinson said the children – all of whom are members of the school's arts council – had been part of a wider project looking at the issue of marine plastics.

'All 600 pupils have done drawings for the sculpture and working on this has been a great opportunity to get the message out to the whole school,' she added.

An NNDC spokesman said: 'NNDC is proud to have been awarded six Blue Flag beaches, at East Runton, West Runton, Cromer, Mundesley, Sea Palling and Sheringham in 2017.

'The council is hoping for a repeat result in 2018. However, rubbish still washes up every day along the district's coastline, and the council is keen to improve beach cleanliness even more.'

Councillor Hilary Cox, NNDC Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: 'There are many benefits to this kind of project.

'It engages children about the importance of clean beaches, it shows our visitors that we are actively promoting beach cleanliness and it provides a talking point.'