Pupils pick up on land skills

A PROGRAMME encouraging school pupils to become more green-fingered has been labelled a huge success by course leaders.

Secondary schools across the Lothians and the central belt have been taking part in the outreach programme at Oatridge College.

The third and fourth year pupils have been spending one day a week learning skills such as soft landscaping and estate management at the college.

Course leader Ann Burns said: "The value of all of this is that by the time they finish the course, the youngsters will have enough skills to know if they want to go further in horticulture."