Children and young people across Argyll and Bute have been doing their bit for the environment during lockdown, helping to offset global warming in the process.
Before the summer holidays started, schools were actively encouraging pupils to take part in outdoor learning activities as part of their home schooling, with many teachers giving pupils tasks to help raise awareness of climate change.
At Kilninver Primary School for example, pupils took part in a number of at-home projects to help the environment, including having a ‘no mow May’, creating log piles and mini beasts safaris in and around their gardens, and building nests for local birds and wildlife. This fantastic work did not go unnoticed, and led to the school receiving a bronze Go Wild Award from the RSPB for their efforts.
Meanwhile at Rhu Primary, enthusiastic pupils took part in Eco Week, focussing on making sustainable life choices and enjoying a variety of activities such as beach cleans, litter picks, an eco-fashion show and baking with local and seasonal produce. The children also took part in a 'One Planet Picnic' in collaboration with Keep Scotland Beautiful.
At Small Isles Primary School on Jura, pupils roped in their parents to do their bit for the planet by getting them to plant trees in the school grounds during lockdown. One of the school’s primary seven pupils also kindly volunteered to take home the school’s tomato plant to care for it while the school was closed. All this contributed to Small Isles achieving its fifth Eco Schools Award.
Across the water on Islay, pupils at Bowmore Primary were tasked with building outdoor dens as part of their home learning activities, while at Ardrishaig Primary in Mid Argyll, pupils celebrated national Outdoor Classroom Day by helping their parents in the garden, learning about the importance of looking after the environment and connecting with the natural world.
The Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, Councillor Aileen Morton, said: “We are committed to creating a sustainable future for Argyll and Bute and we are working hard to deliver the Climate Change (Scotland) Act and enhance the area’s contribution to addressing this global issue.
“It is vital that we educate our children and young people about climate change from an early age and it is therefore really encouraging to see so many of them taking an active interest in finding out what they can do to help. Across Argyll and Bute we have 99 schools and nurseries who are registered with eco-schools and almost 50 of those also have green flag status. These figures speak for themselves and we will continue to do everything we can to help make Argyll and Bute climate friendly.”