EVERY Tuesday at St Angela’s Primary in Darnley, the school grounds become a hive of activity.
There’s some planting going on (carrots, perhaps some beetroot), a bit of foraging (berries, whatever is in season) and some art therapy and music and muddy play...
Children from the school and nursery have their own sessions, while parents and members of the surrounding community join in later on.
It is all the work of the SALTIRE group, a team of parent, carer and community volunteers who are passionate about outdoor learning, connecting with nature, creating biodiverse green spaces to play and learn and developing climate resilient communities.
Rachel O’Malley, a SALTIRE member and vice chairperson of the school’s hardworking parent council, says: “We’re always getting stopped by children, asking ‘when is it going to be SALTIRE group’, or ‘when can I hold a worm again’? It’s been great.
“Tuesday is our favourite day of the week.”
She adds: “Being outside is great for mental and physical health, for learning and exploring, and we are really lucky at St Angela’s to have all this space.”
The space needs maintained, however, and a spate of vandalism attacks has left the whole school community upset.
A wooden pirate ship has been wrecked, a trim trail destroyed, the doors and windows were taken off the doll’s house, planters have been tipped over or ripped out, and the roof of an outdoor stage completely demolished.
It would be easy to feel disheartened, admits acting headteacher Aidan Kerlin.
“We’d come in over the weekend or after holidays, and find things burned or destroyed, and that was hard,” he explains. “Some people see something new and shiny, and want to take the shine off it.”
However, the parents, pupils and teachers at St Angela’s are made of sterner stuff.
“We’re hoping that by encouraging more people in to the grounds, they’ll want to use them, and the vandalism will stop,” explains Aidan.
“This is about more than just a school playground – we want it to be a community space, with a mini-allotment and raised beds.”
He adds: “It’s not just for St Angela’s Primary, it’s for the whole of Darnley.”
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The school and the SALTIRE group have already revamped parts of the school grounds, creating a mini-orchard, play areas, raised beds (including two especially for the community), an edible hedge full of raspberries and strawberries, and a biodiversity meadow, and now they have big plans for more.
The current target is £15,000 to create an interactive garden for the nursery, with future phases to include an intergenerational art project, adult wellbeing workshops, and a food-growing project.
Fundraising is a challenge, however, as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite.
“Our parents already do so much for the school, and it’s tough having to ask the same people all the time to donate,” says Rachel.
“We’re trying to reach all the big companies on our doorsteps, the shops and restaurants our families support every day, and the housebuilders building here.”
The pupils of St Angela’s are proud of their playground and gardens.
Adam Mahmood, five, says: “I REALLY like the mud kitchen.”
Ayaanah Mirza, also five, agrees. “I like to play here,” she says.
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Minha Iqbal , who is four, says: “We like to ride our bikes and plant seeds and flowers and vegetables. We planted carrots and beetroot.”
Rachel’s daughter, Cora, who is five, says: “It’s really good. Our school is the best.”
Her big brother Heath, 10, says: “It’s good to improve the space, to make everything greener and fresher, and it will help teach people about gardening and growing food.”
At the other end of the grounds, the senior pupils’ steering group members - Faith Paul-Shokumbi, who is nine; Aqsa Nadeem, nine; Deborah Okporiri, 10; and Hibba Malik,11 – are inspecting the newly planted beetroot.
“It’s good to see things starting to grow,” says Hibba, approvingly. “Upgrading the playground is good for everyone at our school, but also for our community.
“We are lucky to have the space here, it is very peaceful.”
Faith adds: “The parent council helps us so we all work together, which is important to get thigs done.”
Acting HT Aidan is also grateful to the parents and carers for their support.
“We are very lucky to have the SALTIRE group, supporting our families’ wellbeing and helping the school too, in terms of the curriculum - outdoor learning is a big part of Scottish education,” he says. “We’re very lucky to have a parent council with so much passion.
“As a headteacher, you’re asked all the time about measuring impacts and outcomes but some things are not tangible. It’s a feeling, a culture you are creating, and there is no hard and fast data for that. The SALTIRE group has achieved such great things.”
Rachel agrees. “Our school has lots of families who have come to Darnley from somewhere else – we moved from Perthshire, others have come from Pakistan.
“When you don’t have an extended family support system nearby, you’re trying to build your own tribe, and that’s what SALTIRE is all about.”
To support St Angela’s Primary, visit their Crowdfunder site here
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