Arrochar Litter Sink Education and Art Competition
It’s estimated that up to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic gets into the sea each and every year – that's a truck full of litter a minute. It's killing wildlife, threatening ecosystems and habitats, and is extremely difficult and expensive to clean up.
The Upstream Battle campaign is all about stopping litter on its journey from source to sea. This year, in collaboration with GRAB Trust, we invited schools in the West Partnership, Argyll & Bute, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to learn how we can all play our part in tackling the issues around the Arrochar Litter Sink.
The competition was open to early years, primary and additional support needs establishments.
Participation included:
- A live lesson all about the Arrochar litter sink and marine litter.
- A workshop on campaigning through the arts.
- Resources to support the art competition.
The top nine entrants will receive £250 towards a trip to the Exhibition Event in Arrochar on Tuesday 11th March, where you can showcase your creations. There will be ten spaces allocated per school chosen, including staff members. The overall winner will be judged on the day and will receive a class trip to SEALIFE Loch Lomond!
Registration for this programme is now closed. Thank you to all who participated.
You can still access the Upstream Battle educational resources below.
Watch the Live Lessons
This online Marine Litter Art Workshop looks at a few well known pieces of art, discusses how artists use colours and shapes to convey emotions, and invites us to think about our own thoughts and feelings about marine litter and how these emotions can be put into an artwork.
This Live Lesson focuses on Loch Long and the Arrochar community in Argyll and Bute, looking at the journey of litter from land to sea, how this is particularly affecting places like Arrochar, the negative effects of litter on the environment and what can we do about it.
Other Resources
A guide to our Upstream Battle Education & Art Competition.
A visit to the Arrochar Litter Sink
We visited the Arrochar Litter Sink and spoke to pupils about what they think about the problems with litter in Arrochar. Watch this video to hear their thoughts and see the problem for yourselves.
Arrochar litter sink resource with pupils
Waste Stories
The Waste Stories Project at the University of Glasgow has developed two resources about marine litter and how it impacts people, places and the environment. These stories can provide some inspiration for your art competition entries.
- Mary Haggarty was a lifelong resident in Arrochar and valued member of the community. This story was developed by the GRAB Trust and Dr Anna Wilson, and is based on Mary Haggarty's account.
Take a look here: Arrochar and the Waste of the World - Ron Butlin wrote a story called Murdo and Meg Clean Up the Seas for the Waste Stories project.
You can read it here: Murdo and Meg Clean Up the Seas
