They’ve got a lot of bottle!

As part of a project to construct an outdoor classroom, Pentland Primary School has built a sustainable eco-greenhouse made out of 1,500 plastic drink bottles.

The school is bringing environmental awareness to the pupils through Eco-Schools, an initiative operating in 41 schools worldwide that focuses on improving litter and waste management.

Now fully constructed, the outdoor classroom is used for craft, storytelling and drama.

The eco-greenhouse is an initiative by Sustainable Community Initiative Scotland, under its Creative Waste workshop scheme that uses household waste.

Pentland Parent Council raised £1,250 for the greenhouse through coffee mornings and a spring fair. A total of 1,500 two-litre bottles were collected and cleaned and, for one week in June, pupils of all ages took part in its construction.

Local businesses are heavily involved too. Lovell’s, A4E and Carmore and Duneaden Housing Association provided top soil, and contributed in creating garden furniture from recycled construction materials. Edinburgh Zoo even provided supplies of manure.

Pupils have already planted sunflowers and tomatoes, and a weekly gardening club offers different activities.

Pentland Primary’s head teacher Pam Mackay said: “The outdoor classroom and greenhouse are great resources for learning and I hope our outdoor classroom and eco-greenhouse will inspire other schools to follow suit.”