Noblehill Primary School’s budding gardeners
Written by author on June 2, 2016
A Dumfries school is exhibiting its pupils’ work at Gardening Scotland after winning a national competition.
Noblehill Primary School is a winner in the Keep Scotland Beautiful’s competition Design a One Planet Pocket Garden.
Eco-schools across Scotland were invited to design a colourful and exciting pallet-sized garden using plants that can be eaten, attract biodiversity, and re-use materials that would otherwise be thrown away.
Using the school’s motto ‘be all you can be’ as its title, the Noblehill P4 entry features a sock monster’s nest as a haven for plants to grow on a pizza. It uses the school’s own compost as mulch.
The P5-S2 entry is a garden in a kitchen, featuring re-used containers as a home for plants and wildlife, guarded by a scarecrow wearing lost property school uniforms.
The competition attracted 80 entries from more than 40 Scottish schools and nurseries. The 18 winners, chosen by members of the Garden for Life Forum, will plant and grow their designs at Gardening Scotland, the national outdoor living event, which is at the Royal Highland Showground in Edinburgh from June 3 to 5.
Eve Keepax, Gardening Scotland’s food and environment officer, said, “The Design a One Planet Picnic Pocket Garden competition is a practical and fun way for young people to test their skills and use their knowledge in growing food sustainably. This expertise will be useful for life, work and leisure and be central to a low carbon future. It is exciting to have received so many high quality designs.”
- Meanwhile With children getting free entry to Gardening Scotland, families are guaranteed a fun day out at this year’s event. The dedicated Big Back Garden area will feature its biggest ever range of activities to keep children and families of all ages entertained and inspired with outdoor ideas.
The Big Back Garden plays host to Glasgow Science Centre who will be promoting healthy living in the outdoors and can be easily spotted by their inflatable giant heart! They will be teaching families about the importance of eating healthily and getting fit in your own Big Back Garden.
The award-winning author of the books behind the hit CBeebies show Katie Morag will be one of the key highlights for children at this year’s event. Gardening Scotland’s charity partner, NSPCC Scotland, has announced that Mairi Hedderwick, from Kiltarlity near Beauly, will be reading her popular Katie Morag stories in the Storytelling Tipi on Saturday 4 June.
Little people will also love to look at the miniature pallet gardens, bouncy castles, birds of prey, bees, play equipment, and take part in face painting and treasure hunts and you may go home having inspired your family to have a go at ‘grow your own’.
Gardening Scotland caters for parents and grandparents too. With Prosecco and Pimms bars, a Fashion Show, dedicated Tea Room and exhibits celebrating local produce, speciality beers, music, healthy eating and so much more, there really is something for everyone.
