Barrhead pupils take part in John Muir Award scheme

Thirty-three youngsters from across two classes at Carlibar Primary have been learning about the importance of respecting and protecting nature as part of their John Muir Award.

The environmental scheme, which the school usually takes part in every year, encourages people of all backgrounds to “connect with, enjoy and care for wild places.”

As part of this, the primary seven pupils have been out doing litter picks and surveying the local environment around Carlibar park and the Levern walkway.

They have also been learning more about John Muir, the Scots-born founder of the modern conservation movement.

Muir was passionate about wild places and explored them, wrote about them and campaigned to protect them.

Teacher Robyn Bentley has been guiding pupils through the process along with her colleagues Teri Brogan and Susan Mackay.

She told the Barrhead News: “The primary sevens were learning about John Muir, his life and the importance of respecting and protecting nature.

“As part of this we explored vandalism in the local area. We also did a litter pick of the local area surrounding the school.

“After only one hour we ended up with six full bin bags of rubbish. We then headed out and looked at the bins within the area surrounding the school and Carlibar park and realised there was a lack of bins and dog bins in the local area.

“The children then wrote letters to (East Renfrewshire MP) Kirsten Oswald to ask for more bins to be put into the local area.”

The majority of the litter they found involved crisp and sweet packets, as well as a lot of bottles, cans and vapes which they found concerning to find in a public park.

To achieve a John Muir Award, each participant must meet four challenges, complete the required time commitment and show enthusiasm and commitment towards their involvement, as well as having an awareness of John Muir and understanding what the John Muir Award is and why they are participating.

The children will continue to participate in the scheme when they go into first year at Barrhead High School after the summer break.

“The children also created posters on anti-vandalism and a group created the (be the solution, not the pollution) poster," added Robyn.

“They worked really hard as a team to create the posters and litter pick which was great to see as they were supporting the environment and the local area.

“We displayed the vandalism posters around the school for the children in primary one to six to see too.”