We returned to Haylie chambered cairn in Largs, North Ayrshire, as part of our Adopt-a-Monument project, this time accompanied by a fantastic group of 22 children from the local St Mary’s Primary School P6 class and their teachers.
Our day included exploring the remains of the chambered cairn: how old it is, what it may have looked like originally, how it was used, and what has happened to it over the last 5000 years or so. The class also learned about how the monument is legally protected, the different types of conservation issues it is currently at risk from, and what we could do about these. Our day ended with us all gathered in a circle to handle two Neolithic stone hand axes, both found in Largs and one from someone’s garden located about 50m from Haylie-a real tangible and special moment for everyone!
The class are going to work on follow-up activities based around Haylie, including designing their own conservation awareness posters for the site. Haylie has inspired the teacher to incorporate some of what they have learned into their Learning for Sustainability project, making a reconstruction of the cairn using the peas they are growing over a wire frame! All of this work, and the session itself, is going to contribute to their Heritage Hero Awards, which the teacher is keen on doing with the class.
We had so many brilliant questions, theories, observations and ideas; a really engaging and interactive day for all, and one which Becca and I thoroughly enjoyed (including a sneaky ice cream before we hit the road home).
Based on the feedback we have received, the class really enjoyed the day too, and is definitely up for working with us again. Some children have already taken their families to the cairn, with a much greater interest in it as a result of the deeper knowledge they now have.
Raising awareness of the importance of the site, facilitating positive engagement, and providing heritage learning opportunities, are key outcomes for the Adopt-a-Monument project at Haylie, and all contribute to supporting its future conservation.
Our huge thanks to St. Mary’s Primary P6 class, and their teacher Kerry Canning, to DYW for facilitating communication with the school, to Jennifer Strachan our Archaeology Scotland Adopt-a-Monument Student Placement for her work in developing the session, to Richard Topping and Largs Museum for allowing us to loan the axes for the afternoon, and finally, to Douglas Park Bowling Club, who kindly allowed us to use their facilities and without which we wouldn’t have been able to have the session.
-Helena Gray, Adopt-a-Monument Project Officer
May, 2023