A Breath of Fresh Air - Grounds for Learning

28 MARCH 2003 SNH CONFERENCE CENTRE, BATTLEBY PERTH

Report by Sue Hastings

28 MARCH 2003 SNH CONFERENCE CENTRE, BATTLEBY PERTH

Report by Sue Hastings
A Breath of Fresh Air - Ground For Learning- the national charity concerned with helping Scottish Schools improve and develop their grounds for better play, learning and growing, recently held its 7th National Seminar.

I attended as a ‘parent’- also chair of our local primary school board and an individual with a passionate interest in improving our school grounds – and sharing good practices and contacts with like minded parents at surrounding schools.

The Seminar was entitled ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ and that was certainly my experience as I emerged through the mists which beleaguered the M9, and into the sun dappled woodland setting of GFL’s partners, Scottish National Heritage.

There were 6 workshops on offer, Biodiversity, Storytelling, Growing Food in School Grounds, Top Play/Top Sports, a Drumming Workshop and Creative Dance.
Enthusiastic and skilled practitioners, and all with a wealth of practical experience in connecting children with the natural world, led these. They demonstrated that many aspects of the curriculum could be linked and indeed enhanced by their connection to the outside world and through the activities, which they represented.

I danced and played music, and problem solved with sporting activities and foodstuffs. Children and staff from Hills Trust Primary School, Govan also took part and made a great contribution to the workshops as well as giving an interesting account of their ongoing school grounds improvements.

All in all, it was a great day out. Educational, informative and FUN and I hope to attend future GFL Seminars and plan to keep in touch with their works/ good practices and advice service and to implementing some of these ideas in our schools.

Sue Hastings
Haddington, East Lothian.

28 Mar 2003