Tarbh (or Tarbh na Muraig / ‘The Flotsam Cow,’ to give him his full title) was created entirely from litter collected from Argyll’s beaches as a visual representation of the marine litter challenge, and to highlight the dominance of litter from marine industries on island shorelines.
Tarbh is currently making his debut at the Winter Woods event – an immersive, walk-through trail of illuminated installations made entirely from upcycled and recycled materials. The event is part of the Oban Winter Festival, with this year’s theme of ‘Oceans and Seas’, providing a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about marine litter and showcase SIF’s ongoing efforts to address this issue.
Marine litter is a persistent issue along Scotland’s coastlines, creating environmental, social, and economic challenges. The Scottish Islands Federation has been gathering data on the amount and types of litter found to highlight the urgent need for actions that prevent litter at its source and protect marine ecosystems.
This sculpture is crafted from typical litter items collected from beaches in Oban, Kerrera, Lismore, Mull, Tiree and Skye.