Seascape banner unveiled to highlight importance of ocean protection

The Letchworth-based environmental campaigners created the collage to show the beauty of our oceans, which are in need of protection.

The seascape has been doing the rounds in Stevenage, Hitchin and Letchworth (Image: Gilly Chegwyn)

Members of What If...? Craftivists and North Herts Friends of the Earth unveiled the new artwork inspired by the beauty and variety of life in the world's oceans and the need for urgent action to protect these fragile habitats from further damage.

Campaigners creation was displayed in Stevenage Town Square (Image: Gilly Chegwyn)

Damage caused by factory trawlers, pollution by chemicals and plastics.

The banner was created by local people in workshops run by the Junction 7 Creatives in Stevenage using salvaged materials including an old sailcloth to which the colourful knitted and crocheted sea creatures are attached.

Seacape displayed to show the importance of our oceans (Image: Gilly Chegwyn)

The banner has been on tour in Stevenage and Hitchin and is now outside Letchworth station.

The seascape was on display in Hitchin before moving to Letchworth railway station (Image: Gilly Chegwyn)

It has attracted plenty of interested attention. The crocheted QR code actually works! Netting containing discarded single-use water bottles was added to illustrate the huge problem of plastic pollution of the marine environment, with an estimated 12m tonnes of plastic entering our oceans every year, according to 2016 research by environment consultancy Eunomia.

Glenda Dixon of What If...? Craftivists said: "We hope people seeing the banner will be prompted to think about our dependence on the natural environment and the need to act now to protect it for future generations."

Peter Foord, from North Herts Friends of the Earth, said: "People around the world are today demanding that leaders take decisive action to tackle the threat posed by human-made climate change.

"In the UK, Friends of the Earth is calling on our government to halt new investment in coal, oil and gas extraction, as a vital step towards the greener and fairer future we need."

Although mainly hidden, our oceans play an important role in regulating Earth's natural systems, and make more than half the oxygen in our atmosphere.

For more information and to get involved, see, whatifcraftivists.wordpress.com, facebook.com/NHertsFoE, junction7creatives.co.uk or greenpeace.org.uk.