Upcycling for nature
Reducing, recycling and reusing is really important, and it can be fun, too! With a little creativity you can convert your waste into works of art and give rubbish a new life.
![A homemade craft city, cars and buildings, made from recycling.](https://base-prod.rspb-prod.magnolia-platform.com/.imaging/focalpoint/_WIDTH_x_HEIGHT_/dam/jcr:6c02f021-9e1e-4b5b-9da7-2f6eef58b4c5/___1689313513-Science-home-made-crafts-from-recycling.11691140119346987649.jpg)
It's amazing how colourful packaging is. You can let your imagination run free when creating wildlife inspired artwork from household waste. You could even make something to directly help wildlife, like a bird feeder.
It’s important to keep bird feeders, bird tables and bird baths clean. Wash them regularly to keep the birds that use them healthy.
Instructions
Step-by-step guide
Step one
- Think carefully about your waste and its impact on the environment.
Step two
- Separate your rubbish into the appropriate bins, washing any non-card/paper recycling before throwing it away or putting it aside for the craftwork described below.
Step three
- See if you can find any natural-looking colours in your recycling.
Step four
- Use your clean rubbish and the instructions below to make a recycled plant, insect or animal crafts.
![A tin can fashioned to resemble a bee by the addition of paper wings and antenna, the colouring of black and yellow stripes around the curved side of the can, and a face drawn onto the bottom surface.](https://base-prod.rspb-prod.magnolia-platform.com/.imaging/focalpoint/_WIDTH_x_HEIGHT_/dam/jcr:17213415-4513-458f-997e-1412e6837b0e/1271870932-People-crafts-bee-made-from-can-upcycle.jpg.png)
Lolly stick wading birds
Wading birds are often known for their long legs which are really handy for standing in the shallows of a river, pond or estuary.
After you've made your recycled wader, maybe you could make a few foil fish for it to eat.
Step one
- Print the template here and draw round it onto card.
![](https://base-prod.rspb-prod.magnolia-platform.com/.imaging/focalpoint/_WIDTH_x_HEIGHT_/dam/jcr:cc6f2c00-c518-4582-b00f-291f4432657e/222538939-People-colouring-pencils-stacked-up.jpg)
Step two
- Cut it out and start decorating it using sweet wrappers and other bits of household rubbish - you could try to copy a real bird like a heron or bittern, or just make up your own.
Step three
-
Add lolly stick or pipe cleaner legs to your wader – make sure they're nice and long for wading.
Step four
-
Add a pair of googly eyes.