Below are just some of the activities that Scottish Eco-Schools have undertaken as part of their investigations into the topic of School Grounds.

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Pupils and staff at Lady Alice Primary in Inverclyde were fed up with the gloomy internal courtyard in their school, so they decided to do something about it. They worked with the local community to lay bark chips on the concrete and designed and painted murals on the walls. They put up bird tables to encourage wildlife and they even managed to install a compost bin.

P1 and P2 pupils at Balmullo Primary School in Fife made their own bread – from scratch. They planted a square metre of wheat, tended it, harvested it, dried it, ground it into flour, and then made it into bread. Everyone agreed that it was the best bread they’d ever tasted!

The grounds at Currie Community High School in Edinburgh City are used as a teaching resource in a number of subject areas, which encourages pupils to look more closely at the natural world around them. The life cycles of birds, frogs, and newts can all be observed and the concept of the interdependence of species can be clearly demonstrated. There are several different habitats, including an ancient woodland strip, a wildflower meadow and a closed courtyard area, which is an exemplar for biodiversity. Pupils help with the development and maintenance of projects and gain knowledge of many practical conservation and horticultural skills. This has enabled them to increase their personal confidence.

Pupils at Peel Primary School in West Lothian have designed 'themed' garden areas in their school grounds. They now have a 'Victorian Garden' and a 'Medicine Garden', both of which are used as learning resources.