Pupils helping nature soar at quarry regeneration project

Dunbar Grammar School children have learned first-hand about nature and Barn Owl conservation, when they put up a new owl-nest box at Lafarge Cement’s regenerating North West Quarry.

Four children from the school’s modelling club visited the quarry to see the installation of one of two Barn Owl nest boxes that they constructed using materials provided by Lafarge and a design from East Lothian Countryside Rangers.

Euan McIntosh, 13, said: “We spent a month making the nest-boxes during our lunch breaks, so it was great to see them put into position and to learn about owl behaviour. We even saw a Short-Eared Owl and a Kestrel flying around.”

Julian King, design and technology teacher at Dunbar Grammar, added: “The boys had a fantastic day watching their creations put into place, spotting wildlife with the rangers and seeing a working quarry in action.”

The North West Quarry, where regeneration began in 2008, has seen a variety of wildlife quickly move into the area since the dumper trucks left.