CASE STUDY

Creating a Pond with Linnvale Primary School

Keep Scotland Beautiful's Story

Linnvale Primary School created an amazing pond as part of their LEAF activities. They faced barriers along the way but hopefully the story of how they overcame them will help inspire you to create one yourself!

LEAF runs as one of Keep Scotland Beautiful's programmes. It aims to help young people reconnect with nature, spend more time learning outside and learn about forest environments, including how to protect them.

• LEAF is an annual programme, following the school year.
• LEAF is a whole school award, but is run by a Forest Committee, which can be a single class or pupils from multiple classes.

To say the school staff and pupils have been innovative is an understatement. They have gathered funding, overcome the hurdles of health and safety and even brought the local fire brigade on board to fill the pond, when their outdoor tap was too far away. They are right to be proud of their wonderful pond!

“We added a fence around the area to protect our sapling trees from vandals pulling them out and to act as barrier between the nursery children and the pond. The fence is gated and locked so that pupils can't just run over and access the pond without supervision. We also put in a 'jaggy hedge' behind the fence - again to deter vandals and children climbing over. We held a ‘Picnic by the Pond’ open afternoon for parents and carers to show them all the work we have been doing outside and to talk to them about our learning. We are very proud of our fantastic new pond. ”

Carol Guthrie reported to the Clydebank Post (March 2022):

“This project has completely changed where we do our outdoor learning now, we have continued to explore the local area and now use it regularly with all stages of the school. My confidence in taking the children out regularly and to support colleagues to get outside too has grown as a result and the children really enjoy seeing the variety of wildlife which is out there as well as getting to explore and enjoy simple pleasures such as looking for tadpoles, sampling brambles or splashing in the puddles!”

Creating a Pond with Linnvale Primary School

Outcome

Despite numerous challenges Linnvale Primary has successfully created a pond which has not just improved the biodiversity in the school grounds but created a fantastic spot for class activities in all weathers. Read the full case study here.