SUSTAINABILITY and the environment are at the heart of a new project at Dunbar Primary School’s nursery.

The development of a Beehive Garden began in 2020, with the aim of creating “a multidisciplinary learning environment” and promoting children’s health and wellbeing, while raising awareness of ecological issues and sustainability.

Now, Charlotte De’Ath, early years centre manager, Dunbar Cluster, was pleased to say the Beehive Garden was becoming “an extremely valuable outdoor learning environment”.

Funding came from Tesco and Community Windpower to start the project.

She said: “In addition, Sustaining Dunbar have provided us with funding for a polytunnel and supported us in building strong connections to community volunteers through their training and outreach coordinator.

“These volunteers, alongside nursery parents and staff, are in the process of developing the space further by building the polytunnel.

“This will enable us to provide a learning environment that promotes children’s understanding of growing food, healthy eating and sustainability.

“The children have worked with pupils from Dunbar Grammar School to create wildlife habitats and we have been supplied with a wildlife camera by Dunbar’s Pledgehog Project, which has enabled the children to see the types of wildlife that enter the garden at night.

“We have also been extremely lucky to receive support from a local tree surgeon, Treetek.Scot, who donated several tonne bags of wood chippings and logs to create a wonderful, natural storytelling circle to support literacy and numeracy development.”