PUPILS at schools across East Dorset are set to create a sculpture from recycled plastic.

Children from the Heath Academy Trust are spending the term learning about the benefits of recycling plastic.

Dorset Waste Partnership will be visiting all the trust’s six schools which includes Three Legged Cross First and Nursery School, Sixpenny Handley First School, St Ives Primary School, St Mary’s First and Oakhurst First in West Moors and St James’ First in Alderholt.

The recycling officers and their recycling truck have already visited pupils Three Legged Cross First and Nursery School.

During the visit, the pupils listened to a talk on recycling where they found out what can be recycled and what can be made from recycled materials.

They were then shown a demonstration on how the different recycling bins are emptied into the truck and where the food waste goes. The children even got to sit inside the truck’s cab to see all the different controls.

Back in the classroom, the children drew and labelled pictures of items that could be recycled and wrote about what they had learned from the visit.

Justine Horn, CEO of Heath Academy Trust, said: “Throughout this term our children will be looking at environmentally friendly ways to recycle plastic.

“The visit from the recycling officers and their truck gave the children a great insight into how items are recycled and what happens to them next.

“They we go on to do things like beach combing at Hengistbury Head and take part in special art workshops to begin creating a sculpture made from plastic.

“That sculpture will form the centre piece of a Trust art exhibition, which will be held in the summer.”

The Heath Academy Trust art exhibition will be held on June 29 at Chalbury and Holt Village Hall.