Bovey Tracey Library 2021 Summer Competition

Mid Devon Advertiser article, 30th September 2021

It’s been competition time at Bovey Tracey’s new library. With the support of the town’s zero waste refill shop, Bovey Larder, children were asked to make something useful from their household rubbish.

Local children used their imagination and general rubbish from home, which would otherwise have been thrown away or recycled, to build some fantastic projects.

At the end of the Summer holiday, the entries were displayed in the library, then judged by Bovey Larder, whose owners donated prizes for each age category. Eight entries across the two age categories were received and the youngest entrant was only three years old!

After a full hour’s hard judging, considering factors including function and work effort, and also age in the younger age group, Bovey Larder awarded two first prizes and some special mentions.

The ‘Seven and Under’ prize was awarded to Eimyria for her ‘Rubbish Bookshelf’ and the ‘Over Sevens’ prize went to Martha for her superb ‘Desk Tidy’.

Commenting on Eimyria’s ‘Rubbish Bookshelf’ Corin Burton, owner of Bovey Larder said: “I love that there were lots of ideas in one project and Eimyria has put a lot of work had in to build a practical model and the biggest entry we had. Plus, as we have a lot of cardboard waste in the shop, it’s inspiring to think of how we might re-use it to make other things.” He also noted, “Martha’s desk tidy is immediately useful; I can see her getting a lot of use from it. And, of course, stationary always needs organising.”

Corin added: “we also had to give a special mention to Ed and Tom for their Womble Bin Lorry – we, and our shop-resident Womble, absolutely loved it. It was a brilliant idea and took a great deal of work – especially the flip top lid with the separate recycling compartments inside.”

Gemma Pegg, who manages the library and ran the competition concluded, “All of the entries were fantastic. We’re very proud of all our young readers and the thoughtfulness and effort they put into their projects. As well as the winning entries, it was brilliant to see children use bottles and cartons to make plant pots and bird houses and feeders, some of which were beautifully decorated. We could all take on board these simple ideas. Perhaps we could make bat boxes or bug homes for our gardens as well.”

All of the entries are currently on display in the window of Bovey Larder at 41 Fore Street.