Eddleston Primary School near Peebles celebrated the opening of their new play area recently.

The school received a £10,000 grant from the National Lottery’s small grant scheme Awards for All in November to construct the new play area at the rear of the school.

The application was made after classes P4-P7 of 2009/10 worked on an enterprise and thinking skills project as part of the whole school work towards the eco-schools green flag.

The classes put forward ideas including designing an active play area to meet pupil requests for more equipment for outdoor play and activities.

The new play area will also benefit the local playgroup and out of school club. Russell Leisure carried out the works.

Susan Walker, Principal Teacher (PT) at Eddleston, applied to Awards for All with support from Scottish Borders Council’s Lottery Officer. She said: “We are absolutely delighted with this new play area which will benefit the whole school and the surrounding community. We are totally committed to teaching children about healthy living and the environment - and school grounds are a key part of this work.”

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SBC’s Executive Member for Education, Councillor George Turnbull added: “A huge part of Curriculum for Excellence is promoting projects where children themselves put forward ideas, work together and experience the benefits of the end product. This is a fine example of enterprise and eco-schools where the pupils have taken on views of their fellow pupils and created a project that will benefit everyone.”

This facility not only benefits the school children but also others in the community. Already it is being well used after school and at weekends.

Those who supported the initiative were invited to an opening ceremony when Will Rowse (P7 Eco Rep) and Jeremy Cunningham, parent, cut the red ribbon. Also in attendance were Sir Ian Wilmut - Community Council Chairperson, Mrs L Jacek, Jeremy Purvis, Liz Turner - Parent Council Chairperson, Councillor Neil Calvert and SBC Lottery Officer Jean Robertson.

P7 pupil Will Rowse said: “I am really enjoying the new playground because I can go and play there with my friends after school and at break times.”

Sam Cunningham, who is in P5, added: “We can do more in the new playground like swinging, balancing, climbing and jumping off the structures.”

(GK)