Scottish schoolchildren benefit from BASC Legacy Fund

BASC has contributed £15,000 of sponsorship from its Legacy Fund this year to ‘Estates that Educate’, the award-winning initiative run by Scotland’s Regional Moorland Groups.

The donation has helped ensure another year of exceptional success in educating and inspiring young people from across the Angus, Grampian and Tayside regions of Scotland.

Regional coordinator of the Angus Glens Moorland Group, Kirk Norbury, said: “This contribution has significantly bolstered the initiative, allowing it to expand its reach and impact over 2,000 children over the course of five days. These hands-on experiences provide young participants with valuable insights into sustainable land management and conservation practices.”

Regional coordinator of both the Grampian and Tayside moorland groups, Deirdre Falconer, said: “The programme allows students from primary and secondary schools to learn first-hand about life on a working sporting estate, from biodiversity and conservation to the array of different career opportunities that are available – jobs which contribute to sustaining rural communities. The project delivers a series of positive outdoor learning experiences direct from the boots on the ground themselves – the gamekeepers, shepherds, foresters and other rural workers.”

The series of events included activities such as the identification of Scottish wildlife and plants, which links to the science experiences and outcomes on biodiversity and connects children to Scotland’s natural heritage, and sustainable food workshops which allow children to learn more about where their food comes from, and how eating local, sustainable produce reduces food miles and benefits their carbon footprint.

“The activities were really fun, each giving us new information and letting us try new things” said a pupil from Towie Primary School.

Caitlin, a teacher at Craigie High School said: “The organisation of the whole day was extremely well managed, and each activity provided thought-provoking discussions and opportunities to learn. All the speakers were very knowledgeable in their areas and engaged with and answered the pupils’ questions very well. The experience pupils gained is so valuable to their learning and their life experiences, some pupils commented that they wish to pursue careers in the industry!”