A GROUP of pupils from South Farnham School have scooped second prize at an international children’s art and poetry competition staged at the Natural History Museum in London earlier this month.

The school was chosen from entries involving more than 2,250 children from all over the world including UAE, Kenya and Hong Kong.

Jo Elphick, education manager for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) which has been running the annual competition since 2004, said: “The entry from South Farnham was simply amazing. The collaboration, imagination and creativity that they, and their teachers displayed in putting together their entry was truly inspirational.”

Pupils at the South Farnham school spent time exploring the world’s wildlife to create their entry.

Teacher Lucy Egan, said: “We engaged a broad spectrum of children to take part in the competition and looked at wildlife around the world and the issues around the protection of species. We brought our entry together using batik, ceramics, 3D wire modelling, poetry and Aboriginal inspired art and are thrilled to have collected second prize.”

Wildlife artist and founder of DSWF, David Shepherd CBE, who attended the prize-giving event added: “The sheer imagination and skill involved in the South Farnham entry was quite outstanding, they have certainly raised the bar.”

A group of pupils travelled to the Natural History Museum to represent the school and exhibit their work.

The Global Canvas Art and Poetry competition is part of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s Art for Survival programme. Established in 2004 it aims to encourage young people to express their concern for the environment and, in particular, endangered species.