A new memorial garden and space for wellbeing and reflection is being planned to tie in with the opening of the new school building at Nairn Academy.
Due to the layout and location of the new building, new outside areas will need to be created and the school is currently working with a number of partners on the concept.
They are also in the process of contacting the families of those who are remembered in the current spaces to ensure that their thoughts and ideas are taken into consideration.
An event for the project, entitled A Quiet Space: Creating Spaces for Reflection and Wellbeing at the new Nairn Academy will be held next month to ensure that as many people as possible get involved.
Leading on the project is depute head Sarah Abenheimer, who said:
“Due to the new location of the school, we will need to incorporate new outside spaces which our pupils and wider community can enjoy.
“The current memorial areas are well used and respected and it’s very important to us that these be retained as a core part of our school build project.
“These spaces are precious to us as a school community as they allow us to mark and remember our young people and staff who have passed away.”
She added:
“We are very lucky to be working with students from the Glasgow School of Art who have done site visits to enable them to come up with new ideas and designs.
“It was important to us that they saw and understood what is already in place and how the new build will look.
“The ideas that they are coming up with are stunning and very fitting.
“There will be completely new elements including benches, a pergola and other features and focal points, but we are also hoping to relocate our current raised beds and fruit trees if possible.”
The work on the project is being supported by financial help from Nairn Rotary Club who have chosen it as one of their dedicated charities.
Declan Flynn, president of the group said:
“We have been engaging with Nairn Academy over the last year or so and this is a great project for us to be able to get involved in.
“It’s very important for the school, the pupils past and present, and families, but also the wider community.
“Our intention is that money raised at our events over the next 18 months, will be donated to this specific project.
“It’s been great seeing the designs and we are looking forward to being involved as the project develops.”
Simon Beeson, Subject Lead in Design Innovation & Environmental Design at the Glasgow School of Art Highlands & Islands Campus said:
“The new Nairn Academy school is currently on site and the grounds offer a stimulating opportunity to speculate on place-specific learning, particularly ‘a quiet space’ for health and wellbeing and to act as a memorial garden for the school.
“Students are currently preparing for some participatory design in May 2025, using small models, drawings and collages to help the school create an original garden for themselves.”
Next month, an event will be held where interested parties can visit the school to learn more about the project as Mrs Abenheimer explained:
“We are really looking forward to our informal get together.
“This event is open to anyone who wants to get involved.
“We specifically want to reach out to the families of pupils who are sadly no longer with us, but we are also keen to hear from businesses or organisations who think they might be able to help us with landscaping, furniture, or anything else that might be fitting in these important spaces.”
The gathering about the project will take place at Nairn Academy on Wednesday, May 14 at 10am.
