Deshar Primary School pupils have been among the first to use the recently upgraded ‘Heron Trail’ and new pond-dipping platform at Boat of Garten.
Members of the local school’s Eco Committee were there on Thursday 12th May with Highland Council’s Ranger, Saranne Bish to try out the new facilities and launch their John Muir Award project which will be based on the ‘Heron Trail’.
The new pond-dipping platform went down a treat especially with the pupils. The timber for the decked area was donated by BSW Boat of Garten Sawmill and provided by the Cairngorms Outdoor Access Trust (COAT) as part of the rejuvenation of the all-abilities access ‘Heron Trial’.
COAT stepped in to repair the path after Boat of Garten’s Community Council approached the Trust for help to revamp the popular trail, which had originally been built about fifteen years ago but had since overgrown.
Dougie Baird from COAT was there to open the new path and said: “It’ is great to see the youngsters enjoying the outdoors like this, and using countryside access to learn about their environment.”
Speaking for the Community Council on the day Mary Clark said: “We are all really grateful for the work COAT has done here, it’s a real boost to get this path repaired and will really help breathe new life into the place – our volunteers have already been out tree planting and the new path surface is helping everyone get out and enjoy it.”