Children across South Ayrshire got creative with recycling plastic.

Bottles of water were given to kids as part of the council’s holiday lunch programme. With 11,000 healthy free lunches delivered in North Ayr, Girvan, Barassie and Maybole, that’s a lot of plastic.

Pupils at Barassie and Cairn Primaries collected their empty bottles to use as plant and vegetable feeders at local allotments. Over a number of weeks, the kids helped recycle hundreds of single use plastic bottles. The children also decided to get re-usable water bottles.

In Girvan, children helped Glendoune Community Association turn the bottom of empty bottles into poppies. These will be displayed to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I.

Councillor Ian Cochrane, Sustainability and the Environment Portfolio Holder for South Ayrshire Council said: “The council is committed to eliminating the use of single use plastics over the next four years and it’s fantastic to know that schools and perhaps more importantly children and young people are supporting this initiative too.”

Linda Clarkson, head teacher at Barassie Primary, added: “The children are fully behind our commitment to reduce single use plastics and they are already filling up their reusable water bottles inside and outside of school.

“We’re an Eco School so there’s already good awareness about protecting the environment but we are always keen to do more to safeguard the planet for the children and future generations.”