Seed planting and path clearing is paving the way for brighter communities
Posted on 1 Dec 2023
North Ayrshire Council has recruited some little helpers to plant seeds at a village beauty spot.
Children from West Kilbride Primary School’s Early Years Class joined the Council’s Streetscene team to help brighten up the Glen extension.
Streetscene is responsible for the maintenance of open spaces, ground maintenance, environmental enforcement and sustainable projects like tree planting.
Staff previously prepared an area and sowed wildflower mix, and the little ones recently helped by scattering seeds at a small strip at the top of a bank on the eastern side of the site.
Headteacher Gemma Carson said: “It was great for some of our children to get involved in the seed-planting project.
“The children love getting outdoors in their wellies and waterproofs, and it was a lovely, bright winter’s day when they went along to help. We hope, during the better weather, to visit the Glen and use it as part of our curriculum.”
Each child sowed an area of around a square metre and then walked across it lightly to ensure the seeds went into the soil.
The Council follows and respects The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) to ensure that all children’s rights are respected and that they are free to learn, play and develop.
Article 31 of the Convention states that each child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities – and the seed-planting experience is a great example of this being put into practice.
The Streetscene team has also been making improvements in Beith, where a joint project with the Council’s Employability team has seen sections of a vast network of paths being cleared and made safe for winter.
Well-used lanes around De Morville Place, Lancaster Avenue and Glebelands Way have been spruced up.
Thick moss has been cleared away by members of the Streetscene Environmental Skills and Training Academy, which offers people who are out of work a chance to get some grounds maintenance experience through paid six-month placements.
The Academy’s group of nine workers who have been clearing the paths were previously unemployed parents until they got involved through the Council’s employability service’s Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire programme.
Through contracted partner organisations - including CEIS Ayrshire and We Work for Families – participants also get employability support and training to help with the transition into work.
Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, said: “It is great to see young children in West Kilbride enjoying the outdoors and learning about their local environment.
“And the path-clearing programme in Beith is a small change that will make a big difference to pedestrians and other people using the lanes as we head into winter. The feedback from the community has been positive.”
Our photo shows Thomas Reaney, North Ayrshire Council Head of Service for Neighbourhood Services; Wallace Turpie, Senior Manager of Streetscene Operations, and Helen Miller, Streetscene Officer for North Coast & Cumbrae and Garnock joining the children and staff from the school on the day at the Glen.
You can see the full list of UNCRC articles here in a user-friendly graphic: https://uni.cf/2P2l0ZZ
North Ayrshire Council’s Employability Service delivers a range of support through its Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire programme.
Contracted partners delivering Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire include We Work for Families and CEIS Ayrshire, who all contribute to delivering a wide range of support to help individuals prepare and progress into employment.
To access any of the opportunities delivered by North Ayrshire Council’s Employability Service Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire please email employability@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
You can also find out how the team at our Employability Hub can help you with everything from CVs and application forms to college courses and interview techniques here: https://tinyurl.com/4wvvzubd