IT’S green for go at a Port Glasgow primary as pupils transform their school into a haven for plants and wildlife.

St Michael’s has been a hive of eco-activity with children from P1 through to P7 working hard making the playground and surrounding areas environmentally-friendly and welcoming for birds and other animals.

They have also set up a herb garden featuring rosemary, thyme and curry leaves and the youngsters are developing a plot of land which will be used to grow potatoes, carrots and garlic.

Teacher Florence Thomson said: “They are all a credit to St Michael’s.

“We’ve been getting the children to use all their senses and linking it with literacy, numeracy and all other areas of the curriculum and they’ve also learned about activities such as planting.

“Angela Hughes from Inverclyde Council also came up and spoke about the importance of recycling and we’ve focused on climate change and how to save energy.

“There’s also been visits from the RSPB to see if the school is good for habitats and wildlife, which we have worked on a lot, and West College Scotland did a workshop helping us to build bird hotels and bug farms.

“The whole point is to develop our school gardens and make it a more welcoming, eco-friendly environment.”

As well as rolling up their sleeves around the school, pupils Kristin Blakely and Ellie Campbell, who are members of its group, have been delivering talks about what they have learned. Mrs Thomson said: “The girls did a presentation about the school grounds and have been going around P1 to 4 to speak to the children.

“They are so confident and did a great job and are showing great IT skills.

“They are young leaders taking responsibility and they’ve been fantastic and very pro-active.”

Pupil Shaun Campbell, 10, who is also in the eco group, helped create an eye-catching plant display and has been helping younger children paint stones for a new sensory garden.

He said: “I enjoyed putting the soil in and helping the P1s paint the rocks.
“I’ve learned how plants work and live and that they need water, fresh soil, air and sunlight.”