West Lothian school improves environment for local community

The Livingston South Local Area Committee were treated to a presentation on the range of constructive activities taking place in the school to improve the environment for themselves and others.

Pupils Danny, Caitlan, Harris, Rachel, Ayanna and Ava supported by Headteacher Andrew Brown and Principal Teacher Elaine Carder, addressed the committee to detail all the good work that has taken place over the last year in the Ladywell area.

This includes Harrysmuir becoming West Lothian's first ever Hedgehog Friendly Campus, through planting hedging, setting up mammal tunnels and creating a hedgehog highway to support the woodland animals.

Pupils also achieved John Muir Certificates for their efforts to improve the environment around the school, including litter picks, addressing dog fouling issues and asking P7s to design signs that were then put up in their local woodland to discourage anti-social behaviour.

They also joined with other nearby schools and community organisations for the Ladywell Week of Action in October to improve the local environment for everyone, as well as being a key part of the Ladywell Community Garden project.

Parking was identified as an issue around the school, so pupils were recruited as Junior Road Safety Officers to look at road safety issues around the school and suggest improvements. 

Harrysmuir Headteacher Andrew Brown said: "We are hugely proud of what our fantastic pupils at Harrysmuir have achieved in the last year.

"Our children want a safer and cleaner community, where wildlife can thrive, and their hard work is helping deliver this."

"We hope that all these projects will be both sustainable and long-term, so will benefit both the school and the wider community."

Leader of West Lothian Council Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: "Thanks to the pupils and staff from Harrysmuir Primary for taking the time to come into the West Lothian Civic Centre to speak to committee today.

"It was inspirational to hear of all the superb work taking place to improve their school environment directly from the children who have been delivering the many projects.

"I'm sure other schools in West Lothian and across Scotland will be keen to learn from the good work that has taken place at Harrysmuir, and see how they can also take steps to make a positive difference in their local environment."