Ice sculptures of children were installed on New Brighton beach on bank holiday Monday to highlight the importance of global climate conference, Cop26.

The 26 sculptures could be seen along with a 120-metre sand drawing by artists from Sand In Your Eye.

The installation was due to stay in place until 1:30pm before it was washed away by the sea.

Wirral Globe: Toby Heptinstall, three, looks at one of 26 ice sculptures of children installed on New Brighton Beach, Wallasey in Merseyside. The artwork is to highlight Cop26, the forthcoming global climate conference and to call on world leaders to commit to net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. Toby Heptinstall, three, looks at one of 26 ice sculptures of children installed on New Brighton Beach, Wallasey in Merseyside. The artwork is to highlight Cop26, the forthcoming global climate conference and to call on world leaders to commit to net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

Claire Wardley, from Sand In Your Eye, said: “The 26 ice sculptures of children are a metaphor for the fragility of our young people’s future in the face of climate change, for melting ice caps, and for rising sea levels as the tide comes over them.”

As part of the installation, designed to highlight the importance of global climate conference Cop26, 26 children and their families stood alongside the ice sculptures holding plaques with the names of global leaders.

The sand drawing which surrounded the ice sculpture read, ‘COP26, NET ZERO 2015, make a plan to see our future’, with drawings of the futures the children and their families would like to see featured within letters.

One hundred volunteers helped to create the artwork, funded by Sand In Your Eye and supported by Bezmond films.

Wirral Globe: Cop26 sand art next to the 26 ice sculptures of children installed on New Brighton Beach, Wallasey in Merseyside. Cop26 sand art next to the 26 ice sculptures of children installed on New Brighton Beach, Wallasey in Merseyside.

Jamie Wardley, from Sand In Your Eye, said: “I think that from Covid-19 we have learnt that the human race is indeed very sensitive and vulnerable to disturbance.

“At the moment we are the cause of climate change and have the opportunity to stop it.

“However, there are tipping points such as the Arctic permafrost defrosting and releasing tonnes of carbon that will accelerate climate change and cause a chain reaction that will be unstoppable.

“Measures can be taken that will stop climate change and it is evident that this is what young people want.

Wirral Globe: Some of 26 ice sculptures of children installed on New Brighton BeachSome of 26 ice sculptures of children installed on New Brighton Beach

“They will inherit our future economy and those countries and industries that adapt and embrace the green revolution will prosper.”

Cop26 is the 26th UN Climate Change Conference and will be held in Glasgow in November.