ECO DRAGON FIRES UP SCHOOL PUPILS

The fiery sculpture was designed by local Midlands artist, Lizzy Bean, and is one in a line of many environmental initiatives the school has embarked upon in recent months.

All the materials have been sustainably sourced, with a large majority coming from the adjacent Perdiswell Leisure Centre where building contractor Speller Metcalfe is working on the new £10 million swimming pool extension and refurbishment project.

“It has been fantastic working with the primary school and using waste from the leisure centre to turn it into something creative,” said Lizzy. “We’re really proud of it and I’d like to thank the teachers and pupils for being brave enough to be a party of it.”

The dragon sculpture has been shaped from recycled tractor and car tyres, hessian, soil, turf, cobb and pebbles with plants covering the top layer.

“It’s been great to see what would normally be considered waste being put to good use,” said Kim Davies, PR & marketing manager at Speller Metcalfe. “We have donated over 10 tonnes of soil, and will have plenty more if it’s needed!”

Other businesses involved in the scheme include EcoTyre Management and HiQ tyres, whose tyre contributions made hump elements for the dragon. 

“Thanks to the donations our school project has now become a reality,” said Peter Jones, assistant headteacher at Perdiswell Primary School. “It has been a great opportunity to get all the children involved in an outdoor activity, developing the school grounds a different way, and we’ve even had parents taking part in after-school sessions.”