Toad Hall Cottages helping school children ‘Sea Sense’

Toad Hall Cottages has teamed up with Beach School South West to help give children a better understanding about the effect of plastic on our oceans.

“Teach on the beach” sessions are to be run for the children of Thurlestone, West Alvington, and Charleton primary schools. It’s part of a project organised by The House Group who will be hosting a ‘Sea Sense’ exhibition in Harbour House, Kingsbridge, in August.

The beach sessions will help children to understand some of the alarming facts that make plastic waste so devastating for our oceans:

• Enough plastic is thrown away each year to circle the planet four times
• Half of all the plastic we use, we only use once
• Every year, 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide
• Plastic chemicals can be absorbed by the body and can have harmful effects on our health
• Ocean life receives the brunt of the impact, with plastic being found in the digestive systems of anything from sardines to humpback whales.

Speaking in support of the initiative, Toad Hall Cottage’s director, James Norton, said: “Locals and holidaymakers alike enjoy the beauty of our beaches and coastline. We wanted to support a project that encourages young people to think about how we can help our environment.”

Beach Schools South West director, Tess Stuber, is keen to highlight the benefits of outdoor learning experiences: “Outdoor experiences help children to learn, and we are passionate about taking lessons out of the classroom and onto the shoreline.”

The centerpiece of the Sea Sense exhibition will be a giant jellyfish made from plastic bottles and bags. Children’s art work produced during the beach sessions will also be on show. There will also be a chance for children to participate in an art workshop run by local artists, Emma Carter, where children are invited to help make a giant turtle out of discarded plastic.

House Group artist, Alison Theaker, was thrilled by Toad Hall’s support: “Our exhibitions link creativity with an environmental message, and get people to think about what they can do in small ways to help,” said Alison. “If we can recycle our plastic bottles and coffee cups lids that would make a huge difference. We are delighted that Toad Hall Cottages is working with us to support this aim.”