A group of creative schoolchildren in Ilford have brought a prehistoric mammoth back to life — using thousands of colourful plastic bottle tops.
The striking new mural, unveiled on the side of Clementswood Church in Ilford Lane, features a life-sized depiction of a steppe mammoth, lovingly named “Marley” by the children who helped create it.
The project, led by artist Caitlin Atherton and commissioned by Redbridge Council, aimed to combine environmental education with local history and community art. Children collected thousands of used plastic lids to form the vibrant mural, which now brightens up the heart of Ilford with a powerful message about recycling and sustainability.
A Mammoth in More Ways Than One
The mural stands near the historic site where one of the best-preserved fossilised mammoth skulls in Britain was unearthed by clay diggers in 1864. The skull, estimated to be 200,000 years old, belonged to a steppe mammoth that once roamed the Thames basin. It is now housed in the Natural History Museum, with a full-scale replica displayed at Redbridge Central Library on Clements Road.
“We wanted to represent the skeleton that was unearthed in the 1860s to bring it back to life,” said Caitlin Atherton. “Marley’s mural was designed with his skeleton in mind, and the colours reflect the vibrancy of Ilford Lane.”
Atherton, who ran workshops with local children, also taught them about natural history and the dangers of plastic waste — reinforcing the importance of reuse and creativity.
Celebrating Nature, Art, and Community
Marley the mammoth is the latest addition to a growing collection of public art installations in Ilford Lane. It follows a popular mural of a giant kingfisher painted on a nearby building, with another six-storey piece currently being completed to celebrate the area’s bustling textiles trade.
Redbridge Council leader Cllr Kam Rai said:
“Marley being made of recycled plastic shows sustainability in action. This is art that tells a story, educates young people, and brings beauty to our streets. It’s a testament to the creativity and spirit of our community.”
He added that the council’s partnership with Unicef UK is part of a wider effort to make Redbridge the first child-friendly borough in the country.
Local Families Driving Change
The idea to brighten up Ilford Lane with wildlife murals came from families living in the area, who wanted to inject nature and colour into the urban landscape. The bottle-top mammoth not only transforms the local environment, but also offers a lasting symbol of Ilford’s ancient history and its modern push for sustainability.
As one young contributor put it: “It’s cool to make art out of rubbish – and now we’ve got a mammoth on our street!”
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