Minister and Maisie go to Blackridge
Children’s author Aileen Paterson, creator of the ‘Maisie’ books, and environment secretary Richard Lochhead made a visit to Blackridge community centre in West Lothian recently to meet some young artists. The community centre is hosting an exhibition featuring paintings and other artworks produced by children from Blackridge Primary School. The collection has been inspired by Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve, which lies next door to the school. Staff from SNH and the National Galleries of Scotland have been working with the children to develop their interest in environmental art. Environment secretary Richard Lochhead was given a preview of the exhibition
by children from the school. “Encouraging children to look at the natural world and interpret it in creative ways is helping to build our future,” commented Mr Lochhead. “If we grow up understanding and appreciating our natural environment then we’re more likely to look after it. Blackridge children are very lucky to have this important reserve on their doorstep.”
Pictured above are author Aileen Paterson with two pupils from Blackridge Primary and a puppet version of ‘Maisie’. Aileen’s popular creation Maisie is a kitten who lives with her granny in Morningside, Edinburgh, and gets up to all sorts of mischief.
Beauty and the beastie
Schools are being asked to use their creative talents to help celebrate the amazing variety of plants and animals in Scotland. Eco-Schools Scotland and a range of partner organisations are behind the eco competition with a difference, which forms part of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity celebrations. Titled ‘Beauty and the Beastie – Scotland from Flow to Forest’, the competition will have two age categories, primary and secondary. Pupils will have five options for entering the competition, where they can create a poem, a piece of creative writing, a painting, a photo or an animation/film about their favourite Scottish plant or animal.
A winner and a runner-up will be chosen for each of the five options and from
each of the two age groups. The closing date for entries will be 2 July 2010. For more information, go to
www.ecoschoolsscotland.org/documents/Feb2010.pdf
24 The Nature of Scotland
NEWS
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