Pupils at Lochwinnoch Primary dug deep to create a brand new mini orchard at their school.
The P4 to P7 pupils who attend the school’s hub got stuck in to plant apple, cherry, plum and pear trees as part of an overall project to transform their school garden.
The school received the trees from The Tree Council’s Orchards for Schools Project. The scheme, which offers free orchard and fruiting hedgerow packs to schools around the country, aims to inspire teachers and pupils to get outdoors, plant and care for fruit trees and hedges.
The trees will be watered and looked after by the P5 pupils for three years when they should start bearing fruit.
Principal teacher Anne Menzies said: “We are delighted with our fruit trees. We are currently working with the parent council to raise funds to improve our outdoor space so the orchard will be a fantastic addition to this.
“It is important to us that our pupils have an awareness of the environment, where our food comes from and how we can be more sustainable.
“Thank you to the Orchard for Schools project for the trees.”
A spokesperson for The Tree Council’s Orchards for Schools initiative said: “Schools and students have faced a very challenging year as they deal with the impacts of coronavirus.
“Planting a fantastic school orchard or hedgerow will reconnect students with nature and each other, and give them an opportunity to spend time in the outdoors, making themselves and their school environment healthier.”
The school orchard will form part of an overall development of the school garden.
At the end of 2020, the school’s parent council received a £4,061 grant from the Scottish Government’s Community Climate Asset Fund (CCAF).
It plans to use the cash to transform the school garden by working in partnership with parent volunteers, the school and its pupils, and Lochwinnoch Community Garden.
At the moment, the site has a damaged polytunnel and some veg planters.
The cash will be used to build a new shed, repair the polytunnel cover, create a number of raised beds for each class at the school, buy seeds, fruit bushes and sets as well as garden tools and equipment.
The project – called the Lochwinnoch Primary School Community Garden Hub – aims to help the community of Lochwinnoch reduce local carbon emissions through growing fruit and vegetables for residents in the village.
