A community painting competition – "I Love Nature" – saw hundreds of Peterborough schoolchildren celebrating the beauty of the natural world through art.

Paston & Walton Ward Councillors Cllr Ivelina Banyalieva and Cllr Alex Rafiq launched the competition in partnership with Discovery Primary Academy, Paston Ridings Primary School and Caverstede Nursery School, encouraging children aged up to 11 years old to express their creativity and appreciation for nature.

The response exceeded all expectations, with an impressive number of entries showcasing remarkable talent, imagination, and passion for the environment.

As part of the initiative, 20 winners were selected from each participating school, alongside five additional awards for children with disabilities, ensuring that the competition was inclusive and accessible to all.

The two councillors with one of their favourite entries from Discovery Primary Academy's Kaytlin B.

placeholder image — The two councillors with one of their favourite entries from Discovery Primary Academy's Kaytlin B.

Importantly, every child who took part received a goodie bag in recognition of their effort and participation.

A special congratulation went to Discovery Primary Academy, which submitted an outstanding 70 paintings, the highest number of entries across all participating schools. In recognition of this achievement, Councillors Banyalieva and Rafiq presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the school, thanking headteacher, Michelle Siequien and the school staff for their enthusiasm, support and commitment in encouraging pupils to take part.

Cllr Banyalieva said: "The creativity shown by our young people has been truly inspiring. Every painting told a unique story and demonstrated a genuine appreciation for nature. We are incredibly proud of every child who participated and grateful to the schools for supporting this initiative."

Cllr Rafiq added: "Community projects like this bring people together and give children an opportunity to express themselves creatively. We were overwhelmed by the quality of the artwork and look forward to creating more opportunities for young people in the future."

Ms Siequien commented: “We are delighted that so many of our young people achieved success in the I love Nature competition. Their creativity, enthusiasm and hard work have made us incredibly proud. Congratulations to everyone who took part.”

Many of the paintings will be retained for potential display at future community events and exhibitions, allowing residents to continue enjoying the incredible talent of local children.