Cradlehall Primary School contribute to a green recovery with new Poly-tunnel

Cradlehall Primary School in Inverness are tackling climate change and contributing to a green recovery after purchasing a large Poly-tunnel and composting equipment with funding that was made available through the Scottish Government’s Community Climate Asset Fund (CCAF) earlier this year.

The school were awarded a CCAF grant totalling £9,627 in January 2021 with the construction of the new facility being completed on 25 March.

The CCAF is Scottish Government fund, administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful, and it was announced on 8 January 2021 that 279 community-based organisations from across Scotland had been awarded more than £3.2 million of CCAF funding to tackle climate change.

Building on the invaluable contribution that community-based organisations are making to Scotland’s COVID-19 response, the CCAF will help them to play a prominent role in the green recovery. It is also providing capital funding for a variety of items which will help community-based organisations to tackle climate change as Scotland accelerates it’s just transition to a net zero society.

Cradlehall Primary School was awarded a grant of £9,627 for a Poly-Tunnel and equipment to help the school to reduce local carbon emissions through growing our own local produce and composting raw food waste.

Lawrence Sutherland, Head Teacher at Cradlehall Primary School said: “Our school are delighted to have been awarded the grant.  As a long-standing Eco School and a Gold Rights Respecting School we are keen to promote the links between sustainability and citizenship through active learning in our new Poly-Tunnel. All classes from Nursery to P7 now have the opportunity to grow a crop of fruit or vegetables of their own choosing. Hopefully, as lockdown restrictions are gradually eased, we will be able to re-kindle our direct interactions with parents, carers and the wider community and thus realise the full potential of the new facility.

He added: “I would also like to thank Springfield Homes LTD for their very kind donation of topsoil for our new indoor raised beds which are being transformed into our new kitchen garden. We are looking forward to the day when we can safely invite members of our community back on the premises again to help the children with their cultivation activities and also to join in with the cooking and tasting of what has been grown.”

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful administer the CCAF on behalf of the Scottish Government. Barry Fisher, CEO said: “We congratulate all the community-based organisations across Scotland awarded Community Climate Asset Fund grants.

“We are committed to making Scotland clean, green and sustainable, and through the Community Climate Asset Fund, we are delighted to support communities to tackle climate change and contribute to a green and just recovery from COVID-19.”

The CCAF is designed to support communities to reduce usage of petrol and diesel cars, cut waste, grow local food, and reduce emissions from community buildings. Community-based organisations have secured funding for items including electric vehicles and bikes, energy efficiency measures in community buildings, and equipment to grow food and tackle waste.

Further information at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/ccaf