BCHS celebrate unveiling of community polytunnel
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THERE were green fingers aplenty at Buckie Community High School (BCHS) when a community polytunnel was unveiled recently.
Andrew Simpson, the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, was on hand to officially declare the project open.
After the ceremony was got under way by BCHS Rector Neil Johnson, Mr Simpson went on to voice his praise for all that had been achieved and the potential the initiative has for the future.
Saying that he would try and mention the project to King Charles, whom he represents in Banffshire, the next time he met His Majesty, he continued: "Today is one thing that he will be particularly interested in, partly because it's to do with pupils, to do with young people.
"He's very, very keen to support and encourage young people and to give them opportunities in life.
"The other reason why I know he'll be very pleased is because he's very, very keen on gardening, on plants and encouraging people to grow things and to enjoy the beauty of living plants but also for food, to learn where our food comes from and to be able to grow food and to enjoy it.
"I think he would be particularly pleased to see this project."
Mr Simpson went on to speak of his own love of gardening, an activity his parents encouraged him pursue from a very young age.
He added: "When I come back on another occasion I'd love to see what you've been growing and what you've been learning.
"I hope that learn not just about plants and growing things but also learn and develop skills that you can use later in life, that you can use at home, that you can use maybe at work, who knows? These are skills for life."
The project was the brainchild of BCHS's Support for Learning Department.
The youth-led project got off the ground thanks to a grant of £3000 from Money for Moray, which had allocated some £50,000 of the money received from the Community Choices Fund towards youth projects.
The Buckie High kids called their scheme 'Back on our feet' as it was put together as the school came out of Covid restrictions.
One of those who worked on the project was Support for Learning pupil support assistant Jackie Gerrie, who explained that the dream had taken a year to become reality.
She said: "We had a small group in the hub during lockdown and we overlooked the memorial garden [where the polytunnel is situated] and it was overrun, there were weeds, it was a mess.
"In the afternoons we used to some crafty things with the guys, we used to upcycle pallets, you couldn't get anything off of Amazon so you had to make do with what you had.
"After we came back to normal we decided that the skills group was particularly helpful and needed so we just continued it. Community learning had a participatory budget which we applied to. We were awarded £3000 last June so it's taken a year to get to this.
"It's grown from something very small to something very big. This is only the start, it's not a project we really see as ending. The new S1s will come in and start planting things in the summer.
"We're still fundraising, we're still trying to enhance and improve it and still trying to upskill the kids and this will continue through their schooling so when they leave they'll have skills which will help them in the world of work.
"We're hoping to continue working with community partners."
The polytunnel was one of 20 youth led projects which were funded across Moray. Buckie High also successfully secured £3000 for their Breakfast Club.
There was another boost in store at the opening ceremony when a cheque to the tune of £250 was handed over by Buckie and District Community Council.
