City pupils enjoy trip to Ullapool

A GLASGOW primary school was invited to Ullapool for an educational visit after fundraising for a marine charity in the area.

Following the mass stranding of pilot whales in Skye in 2015, Sunnyside Primary School decided to support efforts in the Highlands to fund raise for a whale rescue pontoon.

The school sent up money they raised to a local group of British Diver Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) based in Ullapool that covers the north west Highlands.

Local BDMLR co-ordinator Noel Hawkins contacted the school and their teacher Lise Perrie and after seeing how enthusiastic they were the pair invited the children up north. After almost two years’ fundraising and planning, Sunnyside finally got to spend a week at Ullapool – visiting numerous places of geological, marine and community significance. During the visit, the pupils visited the local GeoPark to learn about important geology in the region, took a cruise to the Summer Isles and visited a community-owned island where they cleaned a beach and planted native trees. They also toured the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s research vessel Silurian and Marine Scotland’s Scotia and got to see an archaeological dig at Clachtoll Broch.

It is hoped the relationship between the schools will continue. Ullapool pupils are going to Glasgow in March next year to work on urban conservation. The project was supported and funded by Ullapool Harbour Trust, St Martin’s Lodge, Metalast and Awards for All.