Mearns Primary pupils are eco heroes

Pupils were out and about picking litter on school grounds, as well as readying their eco garden and allotments for spring by weeding, preparing the soil and planting seeds, strawberries and potatoes.

Classes also worked alongside Dams to Darnley rangers learning more about animal habitats, welcomed the Scottish SPCA and some four-legged friends to the school, and heard more from an East Renfrewshire waste strategy officer on recycling.

Catherine Dillon-Ruddy, head teacher at Mearns Primary, told The Extra: “The school community have worked extremely hard to raise awareness of our eco initiatives.

“Pupils have been learning about issues such as sustainability and have participated in many interdisciplinary learning opportunities with a focus on their environment.”

Creative Mearns kids used recycled materials from home to make wallets, bags and jewellery, while the Fairtrade Steering Group ran a successful tuck shop — and on the Wednesday, many convinced mums and dads to leave the car at home and walked or cycled to school.

But the finale of Eco Week was perhaps most fun, as more than 800 youngsters showed up to school dressed as eco superheroes in costumes created as part of a homework task.

The cloaked crusaders were finishing off with a nod to Earth Hour on the Saturday and, following an assembly, switched off all lights, computers and electrical equipment for their own mini Earth Hour.

Head teacher Catherine added: “As an Eco School with four green flags, it’s great to see such practice embedded in daily lessons and activities.

“The superhero event had a tremendous response, showing how the whole community values the skills our pupils have been developing.”