Wester Overton Primary greenhouse destroyed by strong winds

Dec 22 2011 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

PUPILS and staff at Wester Overton Primary in Strathaven were devastated to go back to school after the storms of December 8 to discover that their prized greenhouses had been destroyed.

Horrified staff at Wester Overton Primary School watched in despair as winds destroyed their two brand new greenhouses.

Wester Overton Primary School Parent Council had secured funding for an eco garden which included vegetable beds, shed, tools and two greenhouses.

The greenhouses, which had just been erected by parents, were bought at a cost of hundreds of pounds with a grant from Awards for All and were part of the school’s campaign for Eco status.

There had not even been enough time to fit the shelving before they were demolished by the wind.

Head teacher Elaine Dillon said the first she knew something was wrong was when she saw a pane of glass fly past the window.

When staff investigated they found the greenhouses in a shattered heap.

Fortunately, the pupils – along with children at every other school in South Lanarkshire – had been told to stay at home that day because of the predicted storm and hurricane winds.

But they returned to school on the Friday to find their new greenhouses were just a heap of metal and glass.

Mrs Dillon told the Advertiser that they were still trying to determine whether anything could be salvaged.

Meanwhile the area of the greenhouses has been cordoned off and put out of bounds to prevent children injuring themselves on sharp metal and glass.

Mrs Dillon added: “Pupils, parents and staff have been working so hard as part of the eco campaign.

“The school gardens were looking beautiful and the greenhouses were the icing on the cake.

“The parents had just finished building them and the children were so looking forward to using them to grow small plants and vegetables.

“The children were very disappointed at the destruction of the green houses due to hurricane winds and rain but now we will just have to hope at least one of them can be salvaged.”

Mrs Dillon is currently looking into whether or not help can be gained from South Lanarkshire Council to help clear the mess and provide labour to help rebuild the greenhouses.

She added: “Wester Overton is going to need a lot of support to help put this back together.”

Anyone looking to provide help now or in the future can contact the school directly on 01357 521870 or email the parent council at wop@westeroverton.org

A spokesman for the parent council said: “We really need support and this needs to include more than just the parent council members and parents.”