Pupils' Board Game "The Eagle's Kingdom" goes on show at council headquarters
Issued by Scottish Natural Heritage
An educational board game launched last year by schoolchildren which attracted £13,000 funding from Scottish Natural Heritage is set to go on show at The Highland Council's Inverness headquarters.
The nine children from Rosehall Primary School in Sutherland spent six months researching and developing the project and will see it strategically placed at the council chamber tomorrow (Wed) for the last meeting of the council's Sustainable Development Select Committee. They are expected to give councillors a presentation at the 2pm meeting. The council will adopt a new committee structure following the May elections.
Titled 'The Eagle's Kingdom' the wooden board game is an educational interactive tool which raises the importance of biodiversity and what it means to the Highlands as well as potential global impact.
The game is now being trailed in schools across the Highlands with a view to having finalised versions available in the future.
Ian Mitchell, SNH's development officer, said: "SNH are delighted that the Eagle's Kingdom game will be on display for the benefit of councillors.
"We are sure they will be impressed by pupils' efforts and it is entirely appropriate that this game, which aims to raise awareness about the long term sustainable management of our countryside, is presented to the members of the Council's Sustainable Development Select Committee.
"This is an exciting and innovative project which has required a great deal of thought on the part of all the pupils. Not only is it very encouraging to see younger generations getting to grips with global environmental issues, but it also has the added advantage of making us all think and reflect on issues like climate change and habitat loss."
Councillor Ian Ross, chair of the Sustainable Development Committee said: "The work of the Rosehall Primary School pupils is impressive and reveals a very real knowledge and understanding of the importance of biodiversity in the Highlands.
"This well thought-out game also serves as a fine example to the rest of us and demonstrates the crucial role young people are playing in raising awareness and promoting good sustainable practice in biodiversity and beyond."
Pupils worked closely with Trish Matthews of Nature Workshop, based at Rogart, and developed the colourful board game in which players move round four Highland habitats - woodlands, coastland, fresh waters and peatlands - solving environmental problems and gaining "eagle points".
The project was co-ordinated by Janis Keast of the Highland One World Group in a scheme involving a number of partner organisations. The majority of the funding came from the North Highland Area of Scottish Natural Heritage.