Biodiversity Mural

This project was developed with input from the whole school community, but a number of students in Years 8 – 10 were able to work with two commissioned artists of their choosing to create art interventions in the school’s local Westergate village. The project is intended to inspire greater respect for the natural world locally. After initial sessions with photographic artist Lindsey Smith and local campaign organisation Sussex Green Living to develop their priorities, young people chose to focus on increasing community respect for the local natural world, and reminding the community, as well as local students, to decrease littering. 

They selected illustration artist Angelina Kovacevic to work with them to explore different ways artistic projects could increase awareness of the value of local nature. Their design work created creature characters based on animals that share habitat across the six villages of the school’s catchment, which were adapted to feature on the mural wall, and on individual vinyl designs that have been installed on over 30 bins in the school and village. These were produced by Sussex Signs. They then went on to collaborate with local mural artists Wild City UK and Aldingbourne Parish Council to produce and instal the mural on a large wall donated by Aldingbourne Shooting Club in a prominent position across the edge of the football pitches next to Aldingbourne Community Sports Centre. Battling unseasonable weather in early summer, local people helped with the final install in a community action day, organised by Wild City UK.

In July 2026, the mural was officially opened by The Chair of Arun District Council, Jill Long, with local Green Councillor Sue Wallsgrove and representatives from the Parish Council, school and Community Sports Centre.