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Climate change champions immortalised in art by pupils

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Eco Angel of King CharlesShaun Whitmore/BBC
Shaun Whitmore/BBC Eco Angel of Lisa SimpsonShaun Whitmore/BBC
Children created King Charles with a crown made from a recycled lampshade and crisp packet tie
A model of cartoon character Lisa Simpson, who often spoke out on environmental matters, inside Easton Church near Norwich

Climate change champions and environmentalists have been immortalised in art by schoolchildren.

The Diocese of Norwich has worked with 12 schools to see "Eco Angel" sculptures displayed in 10 churches in Norfolk.

The characters range from Chris Packham and Ted Ellis to cartoon character Lisa Simpson - and a Womble.

The project has involved children creating the sculptures from recycled and natural materials, and is on show until 30 September.

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Elliott standing near his model of a red pandaShaun Whitmore/BBC
Elliott, five, made a model of a red panda, using a pair of his sister's socks and tights

Elliott, five, created a red panda, using a balloon for the head and cardboard for the nose of the endangered species.

"I used my sister's socks and filled them with cotton wool to make the feet," he said.

Asked if his sister knew he had taken items of her clothing, he said: "No, but they've grown out of her [she has outgrown them]; that's why we used them."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Lucy standing near her sculpture of two polar bearsShaun Whitmore/BBC
Lucy, 10, said she created her sculpture after seeing the impact on polar bears caused by melting Arctic ice

Lucy, 10, said her school chose to dedicate its sculpture to the naturalist Gerald Durrell, author of My Family and Other Animals.

She said: "He grew up in Corfu; he worked with wildlife to help them not be endangered and he had a zoo where he helped keep animals alive.

"We wanted to do this because we need to spread awareness about how a lot of polar bears are dying because the ice is melting because global warming is making the ice melt.

"Sometimes you can see pictures of polar bears falling off the ice and it's really sad to see them do that."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Reverend Natalie Rees, pictured next to a sculpture of a treeShaun Whitmore/BBC
The Reverend Natalie Rees says the project is proving "a lesson on caring for God's creation"

The project has been organised by the Diocese of Norwich, working with churches and church sponsored schools in central Norfolk.

The Reverend Natalie Rees, the curate at St Michael's Church in Aylsham, said the project had helped tell the Christian story of God's creation.

"As Christians we are called to be stewards of all God's creation, not just humans but the natural world," she said.

"If we can do our little part we can sometimes feel as though it's all too big and too overwhelming, but this shows you can do your little part."

Diocese of Norwich Angel woven from willow stemsDiocese of Norwich
The Eco Angel at All Saint's Church in Horstead, is the only living statue made of willow, representing Norfolk naturalist and broadcaster Ted Ellis, who was a regular on BBC Look East

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