Easten Green Link 2 project helping keep the Blue Toon beautiful

Green-fingered volunteers and school pupils in Peterhead are helping keep the ‘Blue Toon’ beautiful thanks to the Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) project, which donated equipment to help them spruce up their local environment.

A lawnmower, safety boots and wellies were among the items donated to Peterhead Academy's Outdoor Education Group, which supports pupils in achieving awards linked to outdoor learning with a focus on conservation, community, upcycling and horticulture.

Working with key contractor Keltbray Infrastructure Services Limited (KISL), who contributed to the donation, staff from the EGL2 project team visited the school recently to hand over the equipment to pupils and volunteers involved in the group.

The items will help them maintain green spaces around the school, including a sensory garden and raised beds, which are all built from donated or recycled materials. The group also work offsite on community environmental projects, and the equipment will help them expand their work while keeping pupils and volunteers safe. 

Gillian Doig, who is SSEN Transmission’s EGL2 Community Liaison Manager, commented: “Working alongside our contractors Keltbray (KISL), the EGL2 project team was delighted to donate these items to Peterhead Academy's Outdoor Education Group.

“Not only will it help enhance green spaces around the school, it will also help the group expand their activities in the wider community providing more opportunities for pupils to engage in activities safely.

“The EGL2 project is committed to creating a legacy in the local community, by supporting local projects that enhance the local environment and promote community wellbeing. The group’s activities have provided an ideal opportunity to fulfil these aims.”

Trevor Spence, from KISL, commented: “Supporting the Outdoor Education Group at Peterhead Academy has allowed us to contribute to an initiative that inspires and equips young people with valuable skills while enhancing green spaces for everyone to enjoy. We’re delighted to help foster a legacy that promotes conservation, community, and wellbeing in the 'Blue Toon' and beyond.

“I was especially impressed that, as part of this initiative, they also keep bees, and the students are allowed to take home the honey produced so they can benefit from their hard work.”

Michelle Shields, Community Learning and Development Worker at Peterhead Academy, said: “We’d like to thank the EGL2 project for this donation, which is supporting young people to achieve awards linked to outdoor learning.

“Being outdoors has a positive impact on wellbeing and our programme helps young people feel included and proud of their community, while promoting self-belief, improving confidence and enhancing skills. 

“Through the programme we are helping improve local green spaces and increasing awareness around conservation, and this donation will help us do more work to enhance our local environment in and around the school and the wider community.”