Highland pupils who took learning into the hills
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Deer stalking and learning about butchery skills were on a programme of events for a group of Highland pupils who took learning beyond the classroom and into the hills.
The three-week Hill to Grill trailblazing project involved Glen Urquhart High School S2 and S3 pupils who explored at first-hand land-based job roles, history and the culture of those living and working on the Glen Affric Estate.
It was funded and supported by Forestry and Land Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland, Soirbheas and Trees for Life.
As well as experiencing the traditional industries which have been a source of income and livelihood in the area, pupils learned how geography has shaped the landscape, how history has influenced human activity and how the digital revolution and business management are key to future maintenance and management of the natural environment.
It was a culmination of months of planning with Developing the Young Workforce Inverness and Central Highlands, bringing together several partners and employers.
Dr Linzi Seivwright, of Caorann Ecological Consultancy, said it was vitally important that young people had the opportunity to connect with nature.
“Our aim was to help S2 and S3 pupils engage with and understand the natural environment around them – not just for the considerable health and wellbeing benefits that this can bring but also to introduce them to healthy, sustainably sourced food as well as the range of valuable career possibilities available to them in their local rural area,” she said.
Activities included shadowing deer stalkers in managing the resident deer and carrying out habitat impact assessments to identify plant species as well as assessing grazing pressure.
Members of the Affric and Kintail Land Management Group including North Affric Estate hosted the pupils over several days, providing an immersive and hands-on experience.
Estate team member Chris Macleod demonstrated butchery skills and gave pupils an understanding of the anatomy of the Affric’s deer and how they provide a sustainable food source, transforming deer carcass to venison products.
Pupils were accompanied by Mark Hamblin from Scotland, The Big Picture and got to use cameras to photograph the deer high in the hills.
In the run-up to the project, Adder Business delivered a master class on marketing and branding to prepare pupils for a “Dragons’ Den meets MasterChef” team competition to prepare and cook the best venison burger and venison sausage and present a marketing plan. The venison was provided by Ardgay Game.
William Fraser, property manager for Kintail and West Affric at the National Trust for Scotland, said: “It is important as we contemplate landscape scale habitat restoration, that we consider the local communities that have co-existed with nature in the Highlands for centuries.
“The young people of today are our future, and we hope by engaging with them through the Hill to Grill Project, that we have provided an inspiring insight into some of the career opportunities that might be available to them as they plan their futures.”
On the final day, pupils presented their culinary creations after three hours of intense preparation in the school’s business management and home economics rooms and pitched their marketing plans.
Guidance teacher David Humphris hoped the Hill to Grill project would happen again with a new set of S2 pupils.
Ashley Woodhouse, Developing the Young Workforce school co-ordinator at Glen Urquhart, said: “The project was a huge success – not only did it achieve its aim of raising awareness of jobs, the land and nature-based industries and the importance of the food chain, but it served to inspire the students in so many other things and prove that interdisciplinary learning in a work relevant environment, where young people and experienced practitioners work/communicate together can be highly inspiring, educationally valuable and immense fun for everyone.”
