Ampthill Eco Sculpt Competition

The Ampthill ECO-Sculpt competition is a competition to create a sculpture made from everyday waste materials.

It is designed to get people to think about how much rubbish we all create and how we can reduce or reuse it.

If we want to protect our planet and live more sustainably, then RECYCLING is not the answer. We need to REDUCE waste and where possible REUSE it.

At Ampthill Cultural Events we are passionate about sustainability and will focus on pollution control, reducing & recycling waste, promote local food sourcing, support local businesses & will have activities designed to educate the community on this.

RULES OF THE COMPETITION

1. The ECO-Sculpt must represent some aspect of Ampthill and its history.
2. Entry is open to everyone and there are four categories: 

• Pre-schools & Nurseries
• Lower & Middle Schools
• Voluntary Organisations
• Ampthill Businesses.

3. Each entrant must complete an entry form downloadable from ampthillculturalevents.co.uk and send it to register at hello@ampthillculturalevents.org.uk or Ampthill Library by June 21st 2025. You will receive a registration receipt which you must hand in with your entry at Ampthill Big Tent Fete  on Sunday 13th July between 10a.m and 11.30a.m.

4. Entries must comply with the methods and rules set out below. Entries which do not comply will be eliminated from voting.

AWARDS AND PRIZES

Pieces will be displayed at the Ampthill Big Tent Fete and the public will be able to vote for their favourite and our judges will decide the winner of each category.

Each piece will be judged for subject matter, construction methods, innovative use of materials, sense of humour, attention to detail, etc.

Prizes will go to entries that follow ALL the rules (especially methods of attachment) and display the most creative use of materials.

Every entry will get a certificate, as long as it was delivered with a certified registration receipt. 

METHODS AND MATERIALS

• You may put your piece together any way you want, but you must use waste materials for the entire piece. All materials must have already been used for their original function and be clean.
  • Do not ruin anything in your home that you “think” is garbage or going to be thrown or given away.  Always check with the rightful owner first.
  • The piece must make it safely from your home, meeting place or classroom to the display space.

• You must use only reused material to hold your piece together (twist ties, old string, old video tape, rubber bands, etc.). Entries that use new construction materials (like glue, new tape, or new string) may use it for attachment ONLY, not as design/decorative element. Please do NOT use hot glue, nails or screws.
• Nothing is too small but no entry can be bigger than 60cm x 60cm x 60cm

• Design matters and it must be relevant to Ampthill. If you just stick a bunch of stuff together and hand it in, it will be eliminated.

MATERIALS YOU MAY WISH TO USE
Cardboard boxes, toilet paper or paper towel rolls, Styrofoam food trays, paper or plastic cups, plates, take-out utensils, coffee cup holders, Cereal boxes and other food containers (clean!)
Bottles – careful!, bottle caps, Soda cans (cleaned!), milk/juice cartons – cleaned!
Newspaper, magazines, USED sheet paper (extra points if it is used on both sides!)
Shopping bags – plastic or paper, Envelopes and junk mail that you’d throw away/recycle
Broken toys,

Ripped and unwearable clothing (holey socks, shoes with holes, broken flipflops, etc.)
Plastic 6-pack can holders,

Old audio tape or video tape, free CD’s – giveaways.
Used twist ties, rubber bands from vegetable bunches,

Used wrapping paper, crepe paper or deflated balloons from a party.

YOU MAY NOT USE
*Paint or markers or crayons – colour comes from the materials – pick wisely
*Anything you have to buy

*Anything you have in the house that you would not normally throw away or recycle (beads, new construction paper, poster board, etc.)

*Anything unhygienic – Anything that has been in your mouth or used for body fluids
*Anything that still has food on it (invites bugs and smells at home and at school – yuck!)
*Anything that has loose dirt or gooey grime on it. Remember – other people have to handle
your work. Please avoid picking things up off the street – use good judgment.

*Broken glass unless under adult supervision – again, safety first!

!!!! Hazardous materials (empty spray cans, toxic substances, batteries).