Pupils plant wildflowers at Leith Hall

Over the last few months the rangers and gardeners from the conservation charity have toured 13 local schools – Clatt, Cairnie, Drumblade, Rhynie, Largue, Forgue, Insch, Premnay, Kennethmont, Glass, Ordiquhill, Gartly and Oyne – and have worked with over 300 pupils. The project teaches the pupils all about the National Trust for Scotland, Leith Hall, meadows and wildcats, in partnership with Scottish Wildcat Action.

The children also sowed their own mini meadows in large seed trays with seed mixes donated by Scotia seeds – they will now watch them grow in their playgrounds.

The wildflower meadow project was made possible thanks to funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Other local children have been involved too, with the Leith Hall Nature Detectives (pictured) and Green Action clubs also playing their part by sowing wildflower seeds in plug trays ready to plant out between the mini meadows. It is hoped that the children will bring their families back to Leith Hall to watch their mini meadows develop over the coming years. The meadow will become an important resource for pollinators, wildcats and other wildlife.