YOUNGSTERS at a Perth nursery have been nurturing their gardening skills.
And they have enjoyed generous support from local businesses, including Kilmac.
Children attending Goodlyburn and City of Perth Early Childhood Centre, situated in Goodlyburn Primary School, weighed-up the fruits of their labours when they harvested a crop of potatoes grown in planters donated by our managing director Athole MacDonald, who lives in the Fair City.
Athole was successful with a bid for the wooden planters in the annual charity auction held by the Rotary Club of Perth in tandem with the Perthshire Advertiser.
But rather than use them in his own garden he opted to gift them to the Goodlyburn team.
Athole visited the Crieff Road centre along with Angie Kelday from the Perth Wickes depot, which donated bark chippings and weed blocking membrane to enhance the impressive outdoor area.
“The children and staff at Goodlyburn and COPECC ELC would like to thank Athole from Kilmac for the planters which were donated to improve our outdoor environment,” said Centre Leader Laura Knoyle.
“They are being put to good use in supporting children's learning about growing food, naming parts of the plants and knowing what to do to help things grow.
“Children are observing how living things change over time as a result of their care and attention!
“Some of the herbs and vegetables which have been harvested already have been used to make soup in the nursery, or have been taken home to families to make their evening meal.
“The nursery class is also learning about handling, tasting and preparing foods which keep them healthy.”
The outdoor learning project was developed by Senior Early Childhood Practitioner Lisa Band who encouraged community partners, including Beautiful Perth, to come on board.
John Summers, who recently retired as chairman and handed over the reins to Gordon Lindsay, teamed-up with their Beautiful Perth colleague Fiona Hair to tackle much of the initial groundwork.
“The team at Kilmac specialises in groundworks for all manner of projects and I have to say I was impressed with the work that has been carried out to create a lovely garden for the kids to enjoy and grow all manner of vegetables and herbs,” said Athole.
“The impressive crop was used to make soup which I am told got the thumbs-up from everyone.”
