PORLOCK Bay Oysters and the Museum of Somerset in Taunton are teaming up to support primary schools in exploring a unique artistic record of working life on the West Somerset coast.

Ten schools across Somerset are taking part in the museum’s annual Take One project which uses collections to support pupils’ learning. The focus this year is a large-scale oil painting of 1890 by the artist Charles Napier Hemy called Oyster Dredgers at Porlock Weir.

The painting, which is on permanent display at the Museum at Somerset, was acquired at a timely moment with new oyster beds being established in Porlock Bay as part of a two-year trial.

As part of the Take One project, teaching staff will visit the museum to see the painting and hear more about the reintroduction of this historically-important local industry from Roger Hall of Porlock Bay Oysters.

Mr Hall said: “Porlock Bay Oysters is a community story involving the revival of Porlock’s heritage oyster industry so we’re delighted to be working with the Museum of Somerset and local schools."

Lizzie Mee, Learning Officer with the South West Heritage Trust, said: “Teachers will receive a range of training and resources enabling them to develop projects that explore the artwork from different perspectives such as science, art, English and history. We look forward to seeing the fruits of the project at a summer exhibition of pupils’ work.”

Schools taking part in this year’s project include Bishop Henderson C of E Primary School, West Monkton Primary School, Staplegrove Primary School, Parkfield Primary School, Blackbrook Primary School, Ash C of E Primary School, Eastover Primary School, Hamp Community Junior School, Winsham Primary School and St Dubricius, Porlock, C of E Primary School.