Volunteers at Beith Community Garden welcomed three different groups of children for educational visits recently.

Children from Gateside Primary, Beith Primary and Beith Rainbows all visited the garden and learned about the different plants and wildlife.

Norrie Brown from Beith Orr Park Neighbourhood Watch, the group which created the garden, said: “It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm of all

these young folk and answer the intelligent questions asked even by the younger groups.

“The Beith Rainbows attended with their leaders Liz and Debbie

"While there, they each placed a lovely foam butterfly – which they had previously painted and decorated – in various tubs and planters.

“The next visit was from around 35 pupils, teachers and assistants from Beith Primary 2 who were given a talk and shown around the garden and told what flowers, fruit and vegetables were planted.

“They helped to plant some sprouts which should be ready around Christmas.

"They also saw a blue tit feeding their young in one of the bird boxes. The wee birds flew two days later.

“Following the Primary 2 visit, we then welcomed pupils from Gateside Primary 6 who were very interested in the garden and, like the previous group, planted more sprouts, and also dahlias. They also chose a spot for, and helped to install, a bug hotel.

“Both school groups completed a garden word search which we had prepared for them and also held a frog search.”