THOUSANDS of pounds are being spent to transform an outdoor space at Dunbar Primary School.

A grant of £3,050 from Community Windpower, owners of Aikengall Community Windfarm in the nearby Lammermuir Hills, will ensure the school can purchase sheds, an event shelter and improve the accessibility around the wildlife pond at the John Muir Campus.

Improvements to the courtyard garden will aim not only to create extra and more stimulating learning environments for P1-3s, but also allow the school to adhere to health and safety guidance around Covid-19.

The money is being provided through BeGreen, which manages part of the community benefit funds from Aikengall Wind Farms.

Joanne Legge, Dunbar Primary School’s depute headteacher, said: “This fantastic donation from Community Windpower and BeGreen will enable us to create a safe and sustainable space for our learners to access frequently during this difficult and challenging time.

“We recognise that the social and emotional needs of our children are much better supported in an outdoor natural environment, particularly in light of the current advice around Covid-19. The additional weather-proof sheds will allow children to independently access and tidy away resources, while the wonderful wildlife pond is in need of an overhaul.

“We are looking to extend access to the pond by creating a path around the back of the pond and update the viewing platform and railing to enable the children safe access. In addition, the event shelter will allow the children to be able to sit outside for longer periods in very sunny or slightly wet weather, effectively creating an outdoor classroom.

“All this will allow for upwards of 400 P1-3 children to experience a more stimulating and flexible outdoor experience at different times through the school week.”

The latest improvements are part of a bigger and longer-term project that will also see the creation of a large sandpit, a bug hotel and greenhouses, as well as changes to planting.

The depute headteacher added: “We want to ensure the outside space at our school is a vibrant environment, that supports all children during their education with us. With more than 600 pupils and staff at the school, we make full use of our outside resources and hope to continue improving them in the future.

Diane Wood, community benefits director at Community Windpower, said: “It’s so important we support all members of our communities during this Covid-19 pandemic, which is why we didn’t hesitate when Dunbar Primary School explained what it was planning to do with the funding. Children need support to focus on something positive, to help with their mental health and encourage stimulating activity.”