Today the Garden & Grounds Volunteer Group were very pleased to welcome a party of 10 young people and 3 staff members from Dalmally Primary School.
At the beginning of the year we asked the School to help us with two projects. We wanted some attractive climbers to screen off the oil tank and bins at the back of the Gatehouse Tearoom. We also wanted to have two sensory planters down on the lower terrace at the front. The children were asked to choose plants which would be suitable for each project, to grow these up in the School polytunnels and to come to St Conan’s to plant them out.
Dalmally rose to these challenges, deciding to grow sweet peas and ivy up the trellis in front of the tank and bins. For the sensory planters they thought about plants that would have various scents, would feel different to the touch and would be bright and easily seen by people with limited vision.
We were lucky today to have a bright sunny morning. The children, under the guidance of Headteacher Mrs Sinclair and accompanied also by Mrs Rankin and Mrs Johnston, got to work enthusiastically. These children clearly had planting experience and an eye for arrangement. They decided what was going to go where and got all the planting done in no time!
In the midst of this activity, Christine Grier, from the Gatehouse Tearoom, came out and offered to make all the children milk shakes! When the planting was finished, while Christine was making up the milkshakes, Karen and Liz from the Garden and Grounds Group, took the children to see a few of St Conan’s fun features such as the Cloister with its stone owl, the carved knight and the steps to…where? Also the sundial at the front, seen to good effect as the sun was shining and the time was fairly accurate. Then there was just time for a quick look at the hound and hares before sitting down for Christine’s delicious milkshakes and a rest!
Thank-you Dalmally Primary for your help today! We’re looking forward to watching all your plants grow.
