All primary schools in Highland Perthshire are soon to be the lucky recipients of ten hand-made bird boxes courtesy of GreenTweed Eco after its lively launch in Kinloch Rannoch on Valentine’s Day.

Tom Rawson of GreenTweed Eco with Kinloch Rannoch pupils © Ian Biggs

Pupils from Kinloch Rannoch Primary School were first to get their hands on the sustainably made bird houses delivered by teacher and conservationist Tom Rawson of GreenTweed Eco as part of the £7,500 Highland Perthshire Primary Schools Birdbox Project, which will see every primary school in the area receive ten hand-made bird boxes. 

During this fantastic session, primary pupils were able to learn the ins and outs of caring for the local bird population and gained the opportunity to house wildlife right in their school and village.

These safe nesting locations will not only provide shelter for raising baby birds but will give students a unique opportunity to learn about the importance of wildlife conservation and ecological balance.

A close up of the hand-made birdboxes © Ian Biggs

As part of a nation-wide project with similar boxes already installed in the Borders, East Lothian and the Highland Council area, the Primary Schools Birdbox Projects allow children across Scotland to enhance and learn about biodiversity through providing safe nests for small birds — and butterflies, bumblebees, and other insects too – all year round. 

Tom Rawson, Founder of GreenTweed Eco, said:

"I was delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust on this irrefutably positive and exciting Project. With increasing pressures on the environment, it is of the utmost importance, now more than ever, to put Nature into the eyeline of a generation of young people. Birdboxes in primary playgrounds across the region are one small part of working toward increasing early engagement with the wild World around us We hope to play a small part in engaging and inspiring the future guardians of the environment."

Alongside the boxes, teachers and pupils will receive an online educational resource pack developed by Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) Engagement and Communication Intern, who are delivering the Highland Perthshire Primary School Birdbox Project with GreenTweed Eco, to help classrooms connect and learn about local wildlife. To be found on PKCT’s website, it will provide primary schools with teaching material, activities, games and group exercises, with session plans and teaching notes for staff, to pair with the continued rollout of the project to every Highland Perthshire primary school.

Catherine Leatherland, PKCT Discovery, Learning and Engagement Officer commented:

“It is so exciting to see the children receiving these beautiful birdboxes and resources! They now have the chance to directly take part in conservation, and to learn about and see their local wildlife. It has been wonderful to be a part of this and to provide learning opportunities that could last for years to come.”

This project has been possible thanks to the funding by the Basil Death Trust, Jimmie Cairncross Charitable Trust and PKCT. It marks another successful project in the Trust’s wider initiative to expand nature learning and connections in Perth and Kinross and helps to promote nature conservation and countryside access to future generations.