Loch Ness-side primary school in Drumnadrochit opens sensory garden, mud kitchen, polycrub and playhouse after parent council and community-backed effort
A Loch Ness-side primary school is celebrating the opening of exciting new additions to the playground after several years of determined fundraising.
Through hard work by teachers, parents, pupils and other community supporters, Glenurquhart Primary School in Drumnadrochit has created a new sensory garden, polycrub - a sheltered polytunnel growing area - mud kitchen and playhouse.
The end result is a set of facilities to fire the imagination, educate and add to the fun of daily school life.
Headteacher Kerrie Laird said: “The Parent Council have been fundraising for the polycrub for several years with events such as fundraising ceilidhs.
“A funding application was made to Soirbheas, who granted us £8006.73 to support the project.
“We were also supported by Compass Building & Construction Services who cleared the area and installed the polycrub and sensory garden arch for us.
“The Sensory garden was led by Kath Fraser and Katie Hickson alongside our Parent Council and family members who cleared the area, planned, ordered and installed all the items with various local and family support and help.
“Our playhouse was donated by the Neill family and the local Men’s Shed made the mud kitchen.”
Other businesses who gave generous support in the shape of donations were HIS, Jewsons, Highland Liliums, Bunloit Woolery, Scotmid, MKM and David Menzies.
All of those firms were invited to the grand opening at the school on Tuesday this week which was followed by tea and cakes in the school hall.
Kara Scott from Soirbheas said: “The opening was a heart-warming event that brought together pupils, parents, community groups, and partners to celebrate a truly inspiring project.
“Led by the school’s dedicated Parent Council, this initiative has transformed outdoor learning for over 175 local children.
“The new Polycrub, made from recycled materials, is now equipped for year-round growing - giving pupils the chance to get hands-on with sustainable food production, composting, and climate-conscious practices.
“The Sensory Garden offers a calming, inclusive space filled with scents, textures, colours, and sounds.
“It’s designed to engage every child - especially those with additional needs - ensuring that everyone has access to nature-based learning and wellbeing.
“We’re incredibly proud to have supported this project.”
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Families were also invited to see work being completed in the class.
Mrs Laird added: “The children have already begun growing vegetables and herbs in the polycrub with our first cheery tomatoes harvested this week.
“They helped plan the sensory garden and choose what to grow.
“They are delighted with the new additions to their outdoor space and very excited to investigate and use the new resources.”
