Volunteers transform outdoor space for youngsters
Delighted pupils returned to school to find their courtyard had been transformed during the summer holidays.
The outdoor space at Wallace Primary, in Elderslie, was a rundown part of the school that wasn’t used often.
Now, after some hard work from volunteers from intu Braehead and Cardwell Garden Centre, the youngsters will be able to use the area as an outdoor classroom and space to hang out with their friends.
The Renfrew shopping mall donated more than £2,000 and a hardworking team of staff volunteered to spend two days refurbishing the area.
The volunteer work was part of intu’s company-wide initiative encouraging staff to take the time from their work schedule to help support a local charity or community group.
Wallace Primary headteacher, Susan Dalrymple, said: “This has been a fantastic transformation and everyone from intu Braehead has done an amazing job.
“The children are delighted with their new courtyard and it was a big surprise for them when they came back to school after the summer holidays.
“The area was rundown and not used very much, but now we can get a real benefit from the space.”
Along with staff from Cardwell Nurseries, in Gourock, the intu Braehead team weeded pathways, power- washed concrete slabs, carried out a general tidy-up, put in plants and flowers and painted the four walls surrounding the courtyard.
Lydia Brown, intu Braehead’s community development manager, said: “We hope the pupils enjoy their new space which is now all spick and span.
“After intu Braehead agreed to pay for the materials, our staff worked really hard to transform the courtyard.”