Mar 7, 2023 | Blog

Exe Trail plankton mural near Lympstone

Back just before lockdown Tidelines worked with the Exe Estuary Managment Partnership to deliver a workshop at Lymsptone primary school. The kids looked at images of plankton and tiny creatures from the oceans and used a variety of techniques to make black and white images of the creatures. Then lockdown came along.

So Jo from Tidelines is finally painting it with the help of experienced mural artist Pixie Steve. Jo Salter translated the childrens drawings into a design to stretch the full 45 metres wall reaching up to 3 metres. The drawings, as you can see, were translated almost literally but massively enlarged. So tiny ceatures become huge.

Plankton store carbon and are the beginning of a food chain from fish to whales. Climate change means warming ocean waters are reducing their numbers. Local cold water species are being replaced by less nutritious plankton from warmer ocean zones which means those who depend on them for food either have to move to colder waters or accept poorer nutrition. Less food for all.

We wanted to be faithful to the kids work as much as possible. The mural should be finished soon. Get in touch if you want to come to an opening party/ceremony.

The mural is funded by Devon County Council

 

 

 

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