Enhancing outdoor facilities is child’s play for Cruden in East Dunbartonshire

Lairdsland Primary

CRUDEN Building has offered its assistance to schools in East Dunbartonshire by giving their outdoor community areas a new look and installing new facilities to benefit pupils.

Working in partnership with East Dunbartonshire Council, the work was carried out at Lairdsland Primary and Holy Family Primary. Both schools are located near to the Kerr Street and Blackthorn Grove developments in Kirkintilloch, where Cruden is currently building 44 new affordable homes.

The builder’s community benefits team worked with the school’s staff and headteachers to identify areas which could be used to enhance learning and social interaction.

Lairdsland Primary saw the team replace three old mud kitchens with new ones. Soil in the school’s large planters which are used for growing plants and crops, was replaced.

At Holy Family Primary, Cruden upgraded the school’s outdoor learning area by cutting back existing vegetation and installing two new planters, allowing the area to be used to its full capacity.

Holy Family Primary

Ann Davie, depute chief executive of East Dunbartonshire Council, said, “The work that Cruden has done with pupils in these schools is an excellent example of community partnerships in action. Outdoor play and learning is such an important part of school life with great benefits for physical and mental health. I’m sure the children and staff of these two schools will enjoy using them even more now.”

Michael Palethorpe, community benefit manager at Cruden Building, added, “It was our absolute pleasure to be able to lend a helping hand to Holy Family and Lairdsland Primary Schools. We always do our best to give back to local communities where we are building and being able to improve the learning facilities for local school children has been extremely rewarding. We are delighted to have provided them with fantastic new facilities that will bring lots of fun and positive memories in years to come.”