Some councillors have questioned why all senior schools can’t take part in the £18,000 pilot project. One suggested that the two Winchburgh schools involved already had the classroom on their doorstep – with the development of Auldcathie Park- destined to be the largest district park and woodland in Scotland. In a report to the Environment and Sustainability Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel Callum McLaren an ecology and biodiversity officer with the council said: “We propose to increase biodiversity awareness and provide Access to Nature across West Lothian’s education facilities by working with the Learning for Sustainability Partnership group to deliver a small outdoor learning environment.
“We are aiming to support practitioners with interpreting and understanding how biodiversity and ecological processes relate to sustainable development goals. “A pilot project looking at creating a number of Access to Nature spaces within the grounds of up to seven education facilities that will be of benefit to a total of up to 34 schools. The Access to Nature space will create an area within the grounds of the school which will offer an opportunity for outdoor learning.
” Planting of the sites will be done in connection with the schools supported by Parks & Woodland staff within the planting period of Autumn 2024 & Spring / Autumn 2025. The report: “To ensure long term success, as part of the maintenance programme for the site, a contractor will be employed to hand.
