Wellies, wildlife and wonderful souponthemenuatAultmore
FROM tree-planting to soup-making, pupils at Aultmore Park Primary are Streets Ahead when it comes to supporting their community.
The Easterhouse school has a busy Eco Committee with an assortment of projects under its belt, including community litter picks, forest school sessions and a cooking club.
Head teacher Gillian Kierans explains: “There is always something happening at Aultmore Park – we have great relationships with other community organisations, including The Hub next door and local additional needs secondary school Newhills.
“The pupils love getting involved.
“They are out in all weathers – we just get the wellies and waterproofs on and off we go.”
The school owns two plots at the Hub’s allotment, and have successfully grown and harvested salads and soup ingredients, from lettuces and onions to carrots and potatoes.
Gillian adds: “The idea is to get the parents involved too, so everyone in the community benefits from what the children are learning.
“Now we are looking at perhaps having some chickens at the allotments… watch this space!”
Recently, Aultmore Park welcomed the Wild About Scotland bus to its playground.
The programme has been developed by the Royal Zoological Society for Scotland (RZSS) and is backed by a partnership with Clydesdale Bank.
Since 2014 the bus has made a number of stops in the area, visiting schools including St Constantine’s Primary, Castleton Primary and St Benedict’s Primary School.
On board the bus, pupils take part in a variety of interactive and fun sessions focusing on Scottish native species of wildlife, their habitats and environments.
Barbara Smith, CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: “Our mobile education bus has had a huge impact across the length and breadth of Scotland.
“It is vital that we reach out to teach young people about conservation work and the species on their own doorstep.”
Helen Page, propositions and marketing director at Clydesdale Bank, said: “RZSS makes a vital contribution to the conservation of Scotland’s wildlife, both through direct preservation and its commitment to educating the public on endangered species, habitats and ecosystems.
“Since its first trip in 2014, more than 20,000 people have experienced the Wild about Scotland bus, including around 500 from the Glasgow area.
“We’re proud to be supporting the campaign in the new term, particularly as the bus gives communities the chance to engage with expertise from RZSS on Scottish conservation.”
The customised double-decker has been transformed from a Stagecoach passenger bus into a fully functional and interactive mobile classroom with capacity to accommodate up to 26 children at once.
Wild about Scotland aims to engage a younger generation with Scotland’s wildlife – not just in forests or wild areas of Scotland, but also in their own back gardens. Sessions cover a mix of topics, including minibeasts, beavers and wildcats and endangered animals.
To find out which schools and venues the bus is visiting or to book a visit to your local primary school, visit www.cbonline.co.uk/ wildaboutscotland
Is your school Streets Ahead? Do you get involved in your local community?
We want to hear about the projects you carry out in your neighbourhoods that have a big impact on the people who live there.
It could be litter picking or lunch clubs, befriending local elderly people or running road safety schemes – anything goes.
Some funding is available – so let us know if we can help kick-start a new project or develop an existing one.
With the support of our partners, Glasgow City Council, City Charitable Trust, City Building and Scottish Fire and Rescue, we can help you work together to improve your local community. Tell us about it by emailing streetsahead@ heraldandtimes.co.uk