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Govan High School courtyard makeover

A new Japanese Garden at Govan High School was unveiled in the presence of the Japanese Consul General, Mr. Nozomu

Takaoka, on Tuesday (27 Aug), with the pupils who worked with the Incorporation of Gardeners to design, create and build the impressive space on hand to describe their work.

The Incorporation of Gardeners has worked with the pupils to transform a previously unused, overgrown courtyard in the school grounds into a beautiful Japanese Garden. It is hoped that this tranquil area will be enjoyed by the school’s young people and be an area in which they can enjoy a moment of calm in their increasingly stressful lives.

Bill Peebles, Deacon of the Incorporation of Gardeners, who presented the hardworking pupils with certificates of achievement, said; “It has taken almost a year to transform the courtyard, previously an abandoned space that had become overgrown and unusable, into this oasis. It’s wonderful to see these young people describe the project to the Japanese Consul General and explain what they have done. From the outset, when we asked the pupils what they wanted the space to look like and to be used for, their enthusiasm and knowledge has grown.”

“Two of the young people who were involved in shaping this garden are now hoping to do horticulture at college. I hope that this passion for design and gardening continues and they can enjoy it in their careers or leisure.”

Tom McInally, Deacon Convener of the Trades House of Glasgow (who was born in Govan and attended the school), commented; “This beautiful garden can be enjoyed by anyone in the school that needs a moment of calm. It is a wonderful initiative that will hopefully be a useful and enjoyable space for years to come.”

Tom continued; “This initiative reflects Trades House focus on encouraging young people into skilled craft work and trades that will help them in their future careers.”

The Gardeners, formed about 1605, is one of the 14 Crafts of the Trades House of Glasgow. It is a charity which contributes to its pensioners, provides annual prizes to gardening initiatives and travelling scholarships for gardening apprentices and students of horticulture.

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