13/05/2008

Creative pupils from a Northumberland primary school have joined forces with two local artists to ensure that saving water is anything ‘butt’ a joke.

Northumbrian Water donated a 190-litre capacity water butt to Swarland First School, Newton-on-the-Moor, as part of a recycling project. 

Seventy-one children, aged four to nine, created designs to individualise the water butt, dubbed the Raincatcher. 

Local artists, Simon and Jan Terry, from Felton near Morpeth, then worked with the children to create a unique and funky way of trapping rainwater using recycled materials such as empty plastic bottles and carrier bags. 

The water butt, which is situated in the playground against the main school building, forms the body of the Raincatcher.  Brightly painted flowerpots, plastic ‘leaves’ and an up-turned umbrella catch the rain, while pompoms created from carrier bags and a necklace of painted bottles add further glamour! 

Northumbrian Water’s Alison Mosquera said: “We do a lot of work with schools throughout the region and were delighted to donate the water butt to encourage the children to learn about the water cycle and think about the importance of conserving water in a fun and engaging way.”

Swarland First School is also creating a raised garden for the children to grow vegetables and the water butt will collect rainwater so that the children can water their plants. 

Ends

For more information contact Alison Mosquera on 0191 301 6477.