How play could help teach children about climate change

Helen Hill, joined by Be The Future co-host Sally Giblin, highlighted the sheer amount of plastic waste polluting the sea. 

Using hundreds of plastic bottles and other waste, the four metre long mermaid tails took over 300 hours to create. 

Other materials included an old broken tent, coffee pods, medicine blister packs, foam mats and broken toys.

You would need 42 tails to mirror the amount of plastic tipped into the sea every second, the campaigners said.

Helen Hill, pictured in her reclaimed waste mermaid outfit, surrounded by children reading about climate change (Image: PR)

The mermaid campaign took place on the shores of Runswick Bay and Bondi Beach in Sydney. 

Founder Helen Hill said: “David Attenborough said, ‘What happens next is up to every one of us’. But crucially this doesn’t have to be a scary fact. 

“Our collective fear, anger and paralysis won’t turn this climate beast around.

“Our reclaimed waste mermaid tails symbolise the fact that one of the best ways to engage and teach kids about climate change is through play.”

It comes as the campaigners launch a crowdfunder to raise £18,000 to help them launch new kits to educate children about climate change in a fun way.

To find out more head to www.bethefuture.earth/launch