Young ecologisers get message across with great images

Finding the beauty in trash and rubbish discarded on our beautiful landscapes was the catalyst for a humorous photograph competition for children.

The second competition organised by Ecologisers, attracted 45 entries from schools around the Western Isles with six hosting events to publicise it.

Anna Palmer (aka Gaia the Garbage) and her husband, Peter Lyons, the originators of the competition, attribute its success to the brilliant poster designed by Julie Roxburgh, the encouragement and practical support, including the judging, provided by Nik Turner of Keep Scotland Beautiful, the kindness of Morag Smith of Stornoway Thespians who lent wonderful jesters outfits to enable our visits into schools to publicise the competition, and the 6 schools that hosted our events: Sgoil Nan Loch, Pairc, Leverhulme Memorial, Bac, Breasclete, and Sir E. Scott.

Both Anna and Peter thanked the respective headteachers and teachers and gave a special thanks to Pauline MacLeod at Sir E. Scott School at Tarbert.

They continued: “We found that going into schools enabled us to present litter-picking as part of the much wider issue of things we care about.

“A special mention too, for those wonderful people and organisations who have so kindly donated prizes for the 2016 competition. These are (in no particular order) the Storrnoway Trust, An Lanntair, GDK Signs, Malcolm MacLeod Photography, Stornoway Tesco Stores, Crofters, Delights of Stornoway, Lewis Sports Centre, Co-operative Retails Stores Macauley Road branch, The Toy Shop, Jo Engebret, Callinish Visitor Centre, Stornoway Volunteer Centre, Keep Scotland Beautiful, Scottish Natural Heritage, Cala Hotels, and Zero Waste. Ecologisers would like to extend a massive thank-you to all those businesses mentioned above. Without their support, the competition could not have happened, as it is run on a purely voluntary basis.”

Nine of the prizess were won or shared by pupils at Sir E. Scott School. Winners there were: Cameron Mackay, Kieran McNally, Lucie Woodhall, Finn Globe, Ruairadh Morrison, Emma Louise McInnes and Emma McSween, and Isla Scott. Winners at Leverhulme Memorial School were: Anna Chisholm, Domhnall McRae, and Mark Morrison. There were two winning pupils from Pairc School: Morris Stokes, and Stephanie Frobisher. Jess Muir from Back School was a winner, along with Daniel Macalpine, a pupil at Stornoway Primary.

Keep Scotland Beautiful awarded their own special prize, which was won by Daniel Macalpine.

The competition was opened for the first time to entrants below school age.

Winners in this category were Hamish and Sandy Jamieson. Hamish is just one year old. The message that comes across when you see a baby with a piece of litter makes quite an impact; a visual reminder of the direct connection between a present lack of care globally and the next generation.

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