Signs designed by pupils at Sound Primary School have this week been placed around parts of Lerwick to raise awareness of dog fouling and encourage positive behaviour by dog owners.
Dog fouling has long been a concern raised by Lerwick Community Council, and pupils at Sound Primary School were equally keen to tackle the topic. Over recent months, a local campaign has been developed involving the pupils with support from the Shetland Community Benefit Fund, and the Council’s Environmental Health Team.
Senior pupils at Sound Primary School took part in educational sessions to highlight the health and environmental risks associated with dog fouling. Pupils were given creative freedom to design bold, eye catching artwork to help deliver clear messages to the community, producing over 70 imaginative designs from which seven final designs were chosen.
Local graphic design specialists Art Machine helped to transform these designs into outdoor posters, with young people from the Bridges youth project and the Council’s Estate Operations team cutting, painting and preparing backing boards. The poster boards have now been installed at key locations throughout Lerwick.
Louise Moar, Team Leader – Environmental Health, Shetland Islands Council, said: “We were delighted to collaborate with Sound Primary School to produce posters that are now displayed throughout the community. The children were highly engaged and enthusiastic, and the standard of artwork they created was exceptional. It was a real challenge to select the final designs and we hope they will make a positive impact locally.”