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Bucksburn Academy Woodland Project Takes Step Forward

PUPILS from Bucksburn Academy will join forces with workers at an oil industry engineering and construction firm this weekend to work on the creation of a unique outdoor classroom in a local woodland.

The tidy-up team, which includes local councillors, will swap their business suits and school uniforms for garden overalls on Saturday, May 21st to upgrade the pathway and clear an area of ground at Sclattie Wood.

This is the latest phase in the project which began in June 2010 with the support of the school’s business in education partner, Aker Solutions, and has seen the installation of bat and bird boxes to encourage wildlife into the area. The local community has also been heavily involved with garden centres and environmental clubs offering their help and raising money for shrubs and plants.

Mike Forbes, Managing Director of Aker Solutions said: “The woodland project has been a great example of community spirit, pulling together pupils, teachers, local businesses and volunteers. The pupils have been so enthusiastic, giving up their spare time to lend a hand which has been integral to the successful development of the site. This latest phase will see the site cleared to make way for the creation of the outdoor classroom just in time for summer.”

The woodland project is now recognised as an instrumental part in raising the children’s awareness of and responsibility for the natural environment and has encouraged the school to enter the John Muir Award, an educational initiative which promotes the care and enjoyment of wild places in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration.

Bucksburn Academy’s head teacher, Kas Mohamed said: “We are very grateful to Aker Solutions for their continued support and hard work in helping make this woodland project possible. It’s incredibly important that the children have somewhere that they can relax, play and have fun learning, out with the classroom.”

The school will celebrate the project with an environmental day on June 23rd when school children from the towns of Terni and Perugia, Central Italy will be visiting, as well as environmental groups, local businesses and pupils from across Aberdeen.

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