Long planned Memorial Garden gets underway
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Pupils and staff are delighted to reveal the good news that after four years of planning, the Memorial Garden space at Ellon Academy has been started.
Local contractor Craig Reid brought earth moving equipment in on Monday and Tuesday last week.
Additional Support for Learning Teacher and co-ordinator of the Project Susan Swallow hailed the work by the local firm: “Craig dug out a circular path and central platform area the first day then on Tuesday the two guys worked really hard to bring in over 47 tonnes of sub-base material to fill it all in.
"They worked in freezing and windy conditions to get the job done.
" We are thrilled that things have now been started and can’t thank them enough.
"There is still a lot of work to be done with edging and planting, but Craig is happy to return at a later date to apply a top finish onto the path which will leave it looking smart.”
While Craig Reid said: “I am happy to help with such a great project.
It’s many years since I was at the Academy and we didn’t have the opportunity to have a garden at the old site.
"My own children will be attending in the future and it will be great for them to enjoy the garden too.”
A team of S3 pupils helped with clearing stones and levelling the surrounding soil.
Susan Swallow thanked everyone for their support:“The sub-base material was supplied free of charge by Breedon Group so we’d like to thank them too.
"It’s a real school-community project.
"We want to remember lost pupils and staff but also to create a peaceful garden for the future where people can come together and enjoy the space. "This would not have been possible without Craig and Breedon’s kind help and hard work.
"Local firm JRD has also supplied some timber for us to get started with the edging.”
People can keep up to date with developments and gardening activities at the Academy via their blog: eagerbunch.blogspot.com
