In Aberdeenshire £10,000 Bags of Help funding was used to create a Red Squirrel Trail, a cosy indoor viewing area with wildlife information and the planting of some trees and a mixed living hedge.

The Pitscurry Project provides training and day services for adults with learning disabilities. The project and seven acre site adjacent to Pitcapel Quarry, is owned and run by Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with Pitcapel Environmental Project Ltd. Facilities include sensory gardens; polytunnels and greenhouses; art and craft workshops and a training cafe with fantastic views over to Bennachie. The project wanted to enhance their facilities even more.

"We now have the most fantastic Red Squirrel Trail! A series of ropes lead to a feeding station and viewing area. The viewing area is a cosy wooden hut, specifically designed to meet the needs of service users and visiting groups. It has a storage area for the squirrel food and information boards about Red Squirrels and how important they are. The site has also been improved by a living hedge which screens the area, making it more atmospheric for the adults with learning disabilities that manage the site, and for visiting members of the public."

▬ Anne Bissett, Day Service Depute Manager, Health and Social Care Partnership Pitscurry Project

Service users help fill the squirrel feeders at different stations and were involved in all aspects of the design of the squirrel assault course and other activities that grew out of the project.

Key Facts
Location: Whiteford, Pitcapel, Aberdeenshire (AB51 5DY)
Project type: Wildlife area improvements
Bags of Help Funding: £10,000
Grantee: Aberdeenshire Council
Facebook: The Pitscurry Project

View the printable pdf Pitscurry Red Squirrel Trail

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Up to £2000 is available from Tesco Bags of Help to support a wide range of projects that benefit your local community. Tesco Bags of Help is administered by Groundwork working with greenspace scotland to support applicants and successful projects in Scotland. 
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