Benfleet school pupils create vibrant mural from bottle caps

Pupils at Holy Family Catholic School in Benfleet completed a stunning mural made from plastic bottle caps last week, depicting a tree, dove and message that reads "love our earth."

The school has been teaching children about environmental issues, collecting plastic bottles over the last few years to highlight the volume of plastic waste in the community.

Mural - Year 6 pupils with Mr Craft and Miss Corleys. (Image: Hayley Hatfield)

Mr Craft, Headteacher, said: "This was a big community piece of work about looking after the planet, and the children absolutely loved it.

"We displayed the mural on the wall behind the outdoor gym, which is a clear open space that can be seen across the playground.

"The positive feedback from everyone is really nice - we're taken by storm by the positivity around it, and we're pleased it's there for keeps."

Colourful - Approximately 4,000 bottle caps were used in the making of the mural. (Image: Hayley Hatfield)

Reuse and recycle has been a key mission for the school, who were inspired by the YMCA Romford bottle top mural and created their own using bottle tops the school has collected for years.

The pupils worked on the mural over several weeks, sorting more than 4,000 caps by colour, sticking them on the 3x2metre frame, and screwing them in with the help of family who gave a helping hand.

Jessica Corleys, volunteer assistant, designed the mural with the help of pupils, creating the message love our earth and incorporating special elements.

Hard at work - The children work to glue down the bottle caps to form the design. (Image: Hayley Hatfield)

Mr Craft said: "The message is about teaching the children about looking after the planet.

"The dove is part of our school life, with a dove on pupils crest badges and on our prayer curtain - the children already know it is a symbol of peace."

On Display - The full mural is on display overlooking the school playground. (Image: Hayley Hatfield)

Almost every child had an opportunity to contribute, with classes of pupils sharing involvement as a "good break for some of the children to do something different."

"Even ex-pupils came back to help - all the children were just amazed and parents and family loved seeing it completed", Mr Craft added.

"It's become something really positive."

The unveiling of the mural fell on the week of the school's 60th anniversary last Friday, which Mr Craft said "ties in beautifully."