Working for a clean, green, sustainable Scotland.
Scotland's Biggest Clean Up: National Spring Clean 2012

Biodiversity Case Study

Biodiversity matters for each and every one of us. At the most basic level, biodiversity provides the very foundation of Planet Earth's life support system - supporting our basic needs and local economies.

You can play a crucial role in promoting and improving the biological potential of your local area.
Human life depends on the relationships between
all living creatures and their environment
Bio Banks
Chatelherault Primary School, South Lanarkshire, is one of seven schools involved with the Biodiversity Banks (BioBanks) project. The project involves local people working with South Lanarkshire’s Ranger Service, LBAP officer, and Greenspace and Land Services departments. The BioBanks project is about creating seed ‘banks’ - collecting wildflower seeds from local meadows to create new meadows. The pupils and teachers are taught how to collect seeds, sow them, grow the plants on as ‘plugs’, and then to plant them out. At Chatelherault, the planting out was organised by the school’s Eco Committee and done in the school grounds. Other schools used meadow sites near their school. Planted in 2004, the children monitor their flowers as they grow, learn how and when to cut the meadow for hay, and use their meadow for all kinds of learning and enjoyment. This area will become a colourful and vibrant space which will, with time, attract a rich variety of wildlife.
Roley’s Wood
Currie Community High School, Edinburgh, has managed a neighbouring woodland strip along the eastern edge of the school campus since 1989. A group of S6 pupils originally proposed action to restore the neglected woodland as part of a local community initiative – their teacher was rather sceptical of their idea, but they did it! The woodland (of ancient origin) was dying from Dutch Elm disease, and was being used by locals as a rubbish dump. The original project was to clean up the woodland and stream running through it. Since then, native trees have been planted to replace the dead elms and, the paths have been upgraded. The dead elms have been felled, or have fallen, and been allowed to rot, providing habitats for other wildlife. Over 600 trees have been planted around the campus margins to provide shelter for pupils and act as a wildlife corridor link.