Forget-me-not Wood

This wonderful area lies to the west of our school grounds and was developed thanks to the dedication of Mrs M. Thomas.

In 1993, after discussion at a school board meeting, she undertook a survey of the play areas and grounds with a view to improving them. All the developments were recorded by her and fill four folders! These folders are on display in our foyer but some extracts are included on this page.

Over many years parents, pupils, staff and members of our local community have worked hard to improve the paths and the planting.

Each class( Primary 3 - 7 ) can enjoy using the wood at playtimes on one allocated day a week.

Our wood is a very interesting place!   Stephen Kenney, the Park Ranger, took Primary 3 for a woodland walk on a gloomy autumn day.   The children learned some stories and facts about trees.

'How we got our wood' by Lauren M.

(Extract from Folder 1)

When the boys were playing football up the banking, the ball kept rolling into the wood so someone planted a hedge. The hedge grew higher and higher. The school forgot the wood was there until Mrs Thomas asked some people if it belonged to them. The people said that it did not belong to them.Then Mrs Thomas asked a man in Glasgow. After two months the man wrote back saying the wood is ours.

Today we went to see the wood with P.1 and P.2. We saw blue tits, chaffinches and a thrush. There were snowdrops in the wood. We hope some bluebells will grow there as well. We are going to have a competition for who can think of the best name for the wood.

Did you know?

Cardross Primary School won the 'Greenest School Award' presented by Dumbarton District Council in 1994.Pupils from the school collected a cheque to the value of two hundred pounds from Provost Pat O'Neill.

Cardross Primary reached the finals of the ' Colonel Sanders Environmental Awards 1994' and finished as runner-up in this national competition. Gillian Dean and William Normand were the two lucky pupils who made the journey to London for the Awards Ceremony. They collected yet another cheque to the value of two hundred pounds!

The name 'Forget-me-not Wood' was suggested by Callum MacDonald and David Craig. The whole school voted and it was the the overwhelming winner.

In 1994 we had far too many young Sycamore trees. They were felled by Ranger Dave Munro. The tree trunks were used to help make steps and a path through the wood. They were replaced by Oak, Rowan, Hazel and Ash saplings.

A survey found these plants growing in our wood

The broad leaved woodland, rectangular in shape is largely dominated by Sycamore, particularly towards the north part of the wood.
Birch was found frequently throughout the woodland. Though there may be the possibility of hybrids present, they have all been recorded as Silver Birch.
Rowan, Hawthorn, Elder, a single Beech and an unidentified willow were all recorded within the woodland.
A privet hedge forms a boundary between the woodland and the school playing field.