Creating a cleaner, better protected beach and town
This exhibition brings together a powerful collection of artworks created by the School Council of Victoria Primary School, Penarth. Through collage, photography and handwritten New Year’s resolutions, the pupils explore how small, everyday choices can make a real difference to the places we live and love.
Each artwork begins with a simple promise. To recycle more. To use less plastic. To help animals. To clean the beach. These pledges are paired with striking images of children holding up a fragile, hand-made world, surrounded by fragments of real litter. Sweet wrappers, packaging and bottle tops are transformed into a visual reminder that the future of our environment is shaped by daily habits.
One of the key messages running through the exhibition is that litter rarely starts at the seaside. Most of what ends up on our beaches begins its journey inland, in towns, villages and cities. Dropped on pavements, left in parks or blown from bins, it finds its way into drains, streams and rivers before eventually reaching the sea. Along the way, it causes damage to ecosystems, wildlife and the natural beauty of our coastline.
Seen through the eyes of children, these artworks feel both hopeful and quietly challenging. They remind us that environmental responsibility starts close to home, and that when good habits are formed early, they can last a lifetime. There is a simple message. Care. Responsibility. Pride in place.
Get involved
If this exhibition inspires you to take action, there are plenty of ways to get involved locally. Regular beach cleans take place along Penarth and the Vale coastline, supported by groups such as Penarth Civic Society, local schools and community volunteers. Penarth Town Council, Keep Wales Tidy and other grassroots organisations also share updates on environmental projects, litter picks and coastal initiatives throughout the year.
Whether it’s joining a beach clean, reducing single-use plastics at home, or simply taking responsibility for the litter you see, small actions add up. As this exhibition shows, protecting our beaches and our town is something we can all hold up together.
