Abronhill Primary pupils help clean up forest

This comes after the school’s Eco Committee contacted their local MSP, Jamie Hepburn, to find out what could be done about the area.

The MSP contacted the Scottish Wildlife Trust Cumbernauld Greenspace Reserves manager, Duncan Clark, who then went out and inspected the site.

This area is used by the school for its outdoor lessons and forms part of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Cumbernauld Glen Wildlife Reserve, so the Trust’s team of volunteers set to work using ropes to pull out shopping trolleys and litter from the steep-sided burn.

After removing the litter, Duncan Clark met with the Eco Committee to see how the area could be improved for the future, reducing litter and improving the area for wildlife.

Working with the school, the Scottish Wildlife Trust applied for a grant from the Carrillion Natural Habitats Fund to improve the biodiversity of the woods and make it a fun place to be.

Staff from Carrillion’s head office also pitched-in and helped remove non-native plants that were stopping natural regeneration

Volunteers from the Scottish Wildlife Trust built a new path through the woods and the primary seven class are using this area to take their maths, English and history lessons into the woods for the Forest Schools programme.

There is a great pride in the local environment around Cumbernauld Glen and the pupils have demonstrated how small actions can have big consequences when we take responsibility for our environment.

MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Jamie Hepburn, said: “I am delighted to see what the Scottish Wildlife Trust has achieved since the Abronhill Primary pupils wrote to me with their concerns over litter and about the conditions for plants and animals in the wild space behind the school.

“It is a great demonstration for the children of what can be done when civic bodies work together for the benefit of the community.”

The Scottish Wildlife Trust Cumbernauld Greenspace Reserves Manager, Duncan Clark, said: “The children from Abronhill Primary School have led by example and shown how small actions can make a difference.

“Investing time and effort in this area will encourage more people to take the same pride in our town’s woods and secure them for future generations.”

Principal teacher at Abronhill Primary School, Jane Stocks, said: “On behalf of Abronhill Primary School I would like to thank Scottish Wildlife Trust and Carillion for funding to improve and develop woodland neighbouring our school.

“The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s staff and volunteers have done some fantastic work in the woodland and in doing so have played a key role in the outdoor learning experiences.”