Turning the tide - bringing sustainable living ideas to East Ayrshire pupils

2020 is Visit Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters. To celebrate this, East Ayrshire Council’s Learning Outdoor Support Team (LOST) and  Ayrshire based author Greta Yorke, have been working together to create an exciting programme of events and activities to help promote conservation and environmental awareness among primary school pupils.

The project, “Turn the Tide”, based around Greta’s book How the Pirates Turned the Tide follows the story of pirates who, shocked at the litter and waste thrown into the sea, decide to take action.

Seven schools are taking part in the project, which begins with a visit from Greta herself and goes on to activities ranging from map making and model boat building, to visits to Ayrshire’s coast, and a recycling centre.

The book itself, and the work developed around it, deliver a strong message about how we can live sustainably.  The project is helping LOST deliver the Learning for Sustainability (LfS) programme which is being followed by all Scotland’s pupils.

Launching the programme at Hillhead Primary School, Kilmarnock, Councillor Fiona Campbell, Cabinet Member for Skills and Learning, East Ayrshire Council explains:  “Learning for sustainability (LfS) is an approach to life and learning which helps pupils, educators, schools and their wider communities to build a socially-just, sustainable and equitable society.

“We’re delighted to work with Greta, a local author, on the “Turn the Tide” project. It sets a great example of sustainable development education; emphasising links between food, packaging, ocean pollution and nature by combining literacy and outdoor learning activity. This provides coherent, valuable and engaging experience for children.

“Part of the project involves visits to the Ayrshire coast and the Council’s Waste Management depot to see recycling in action. It reinforces the connection between our actions and the consequences of our behaviour. We hope that this fun filled programme will help create responsible future citizens who will be proactive in turning the tide in their own way”