Children help create art project in Skegness for SO Festival

‘Earth Circles’ is a pop-up garden installation that will feature more than 2,000 plants grown by schools and community groups across East Lincolnshire.

It will take centre-stage along the Skegness prom during SO Festival’s finale weekend on July 2 and 3.

Nine schools have got involved in the planting project, which has formed part of their current school curriculum.

Chapel St Leonards Primary School’s reception class coincided the planting project with its lessons on nature.

Their teacher Miss Lyall said: “The children have really enjoyed growing plants for SO Festival. This term, we have been learning about nature and the opportunity to grow something for the community really brought the topic to life. It has also inspired us to create class planters with themes.

“Reception chose to create a fairy garden and a mini beast haven. We are very fortunate to receive some of the plants back after the festival and these are going to be used in our new nature walk, which will be created soon on the school grounds. The children are very excited to see their plants at SO Festival.”

Designed by Julia Barton, the pop-up garden installation will represent earth as part of this year’s ‘elements’ theme - earth, air, fire and water.

So far, the project has seen 15 volunteering groups get involved in the project, including six community groups from across Skegness and Lincolnshire.

SO Festival 2016 is a nine day arts festival, with exciting acts due to wow audiences. The event will take place from Saturday June 25 to Sunday July 3, visiting Mablethorpe, Horncastle, Alford, Louth, Spilsby, Woodhall Spa and Skegness.