At the end of last year, Gage­brook and East Derwent Prima­ry School students got a lesson in creativity and sustainability, making Christmas trees from recycled materials.

At Gagebrook Primary School, Ms Tamika Burrill’s prep class created a masterpiece using recycled wire, reinvented a broken hat stand, and recycled bottle caps, old wrapping paper and streamers.

“The enthusiasm from the class was overwhelming,” said Ms Burrill. “There was a real commitment to work together and make something special out of materials that could have wasted away in landfill.”

Teacher and sustainability team leader Ms Leah Marshall from East Derwent Primary School said the activity had additional benefits. “Not only did the students make the link that plastics consume a lot of resources and don’t break down for hundreds of years, they can also be reused over and over,” Ms Marshall said.

The materials for the artworks came from Brighton Council’s waste booth, thanks to the recy­cling efforts of the community.

For more ideas on being inven­tive with recycling or upcycling, come along to The Big Week­end of Sustainable Living Ideas on 25 – 26 March, 2023 at the Brighton Civic Centre, 25 Green Point Road, Bridgewater from 9am until 4pm.