Youngsters will brighten up an Aberdeenshire woodland with their art work as part of a community project next week.
Visitors to Dunnottar Woods in Stonehaven will get a surprise in the coming weeks, as they spot various sculptures, recycled magical creatures and sparkly mobiles installed in the trees.
The project, which will involve primary seven pupils from the town’s Arduthie, Carronhill and Mill O’Forest schools, as well as nearby Lairhillock and Bervie primaries, will begin next week.
Each school will spend a day in the woods with Emily Holmes, from the Forestry Commission Scotland, pupils from Mackie Academy and Alan Craig, of Dunnottar Wood Bodgers.
As well as hanging their already prepared art works, the children will take part in a variety of activities.
Yesterday, the Stonehaven Lions Club presented organisers with a cheque for £250 to go towards the art project, which will also act as a transition day for the groups.
Ms Holmes, the commission’s community ranger in the area, said: “It’s going to be a fantastic day out and will help the pupils wind down from their last primary school year and gear up for their summer holidays.
“They’ll have loads of fun in the woods, and although they probably won’t even realise it, they’ll also be preparing for their first year at secondary, because it’s really a transition day in disguise.
“It’s a great relaxed atmosphere for the children to meet up with older pupils and get to know them so that when they move up to the ‘big school’ there will be some faces they recognise. It’s a really good way to help them make that change to secondary life.”
The art work will be left in situ for a few weeks during the holiday for members of the public to enjoy.