Perthshire shed gurus back outdoor education

Carse business supports rural primary school

A leading Perthshire family business which has made sheds for nearly four decades has backed children’s outdoor learning.

Award-winning firm, Gillies and Mackay, based at East Inchmichael in the Carse of Gowrie, learned of efforts at a small rural primary school to get kids involved with nature and food growing.

Believing in the benefits of outdoors education, the company decided to donate a shed so the youngsters from Buchlyvie Primary School could get hands-on experience in the school garden.

Members of the local community also came to the assistance of staff at the 36-pupil school by providing tools, seeds and materials for the pupils.

‘Inspiring’

Gillies and Mackay staff member Nicola Hutchison saw first-hand the benefits of the project when visiting, as the kids got involved in growing potatoes and runner beans.

“Spending time with the pupils at Buchlyvie was genuinely inspiring,” she said.

“Their enthusiasm for the outdoors is infectious, and I found myself learning alongside them. If we want future generations to value and protect the world around them, we have to give them the opportunity to experience it first-hand.”

Developing confidence

Gillies and Mackay deliver and assemble sheds for customers across Scotland and in the North of England.

Staff at the school were appreciative of their backing for their outdoor learning project.

Yvonne Gibb, Headteacher of Buchlyvie Primary School, said: “This generous support from Gillies and Mackay and our local community doesn’t just provide us with a shed; it provides our children with a sense of pride and a functional hub for their outdoor discovery. It’s about more than just gardening; it’s about growing confident, happy individuals.”

Company CEO, Cara Mackay, said backing the children’s learning was a little payback for the support the company has received from local communities down the years.

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have the support of customers across Scotland for over 37 years, and we don’t take that lightly,” she said.