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Members of the SWAT team get prepared

As part of Springwatch 2008, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Scotland challenged listeners to turn unloved pieces of land into breathing places for people and nature.

Over one weekend locations across the UK were tackled by special ‘SWAT’ teams. These teams of local volunteers had just one day to transform a piece of land.

The transformation needs to be beneficial for nature, and when the work is complete the site needs to be publicly accessible. It’s important that the SWAT has a legacy which volunteers can adopt, maintain and continue to enjoy.

Planting at East Plean Primary School

What happened at East Plean Primary School?

With the support of Forth Environment Link the aim was to transform a tarmac desert at the front of East Plean Primary School into a welcoming, restful and inspiring area that can be used by the community and the school.Ìý

Planting was at the heart of the transformation.Ìý The school installed trees to form a Celtic tree trail; planted native trees as shade and shelter for children and wildlife; created planting space to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit; improved the area for wildlife with nectar-rich and berry-bearing plants; encouraged wildlife by planting shrubs for shelter; provided informal seating; allowing children and families the experiences of soil, seeds and the wonder of sunshine.

Getting the pond edge ready

All the children in the school grew plants from seed, in preparation for planting out with their families and the wider community.Ìý All planting mediums are peat-free.Ìý Plants are predominantly native varieties with water being gathered through a water butt and rain-saving measures.

Eve who was there on the day writes:

"We had 140 people who came along to help get all the wildflower plants into the ground.Ìý We had marvellous volunteer support (planting buddies and activity leaders) from teachers, school staff, parents and the wider community.Ìý

On our planting day all children had to be accompanied by an adult.Ìý We were responsible for many adults not getting a long lie in bed that day.Ìý Many adults came equipped with flasks of coffee, ready for a seat in the sun.Ìý

The adults get involved too

Despite their pleas for mercy they were soon seen with spades, trowels, wheelbarrows and watering cans enjoying working alongside their children.Ìý At school!Ìý On a Sunday!Ìý

Some adults, as some do, took this a step further and started playing with their children.Ìý A water fight started by a stray dad was convincingly won by the children.Ìý They dried off in the sun and wrung their soggy socks out onto the plants.

A mum who came along sporting new nails to match her t-shirt, and who had never put her hands in the ground before, helped her children to plant out the runner beans and sweet peas they had grown.Ìý She enjoyed it so much, she kept on going and planted until she reached the end of the row."

SWAT update

The site was revisited on 31 October to continue with improvements to the area.Ìý Activities, centred around the theme of light, took place across the day allowing children to explore the changes affecting the natural world as the days shorten.

Preparing the ground to plant bulbs

Runner beans planted during the original SWAT weekend were harvested, hibernation hotels for wildlife were created, the winter survival strategies of plants examined and compost bins organised.

The bulb planting will provide more nectar and pollen for wildlife next spring. The community will be able to enjoy seeing the wildlife and the splash of colour of the flowers. In these photos children are planting daffodil and narcissus bulbs into a patch of grass at the front of the school.

Looking for bean seeds

This patch of plain green grass will transform into a field of flowers in spring with space for a narrow path to wind through the flowers. The children are learning about using tools, plants and seasons, planting for wildlife, as well as discovering the subsoil and the creatures that inhabit it. It's a chilly autumn day but the work helped keep everyone warm.

Teachers, pupils, friends and family in the community all got involved in the SWAT revisit in the school grounds of East Plean Primary School.