Burnfoot sheepfank project
Last week we received a visit from a group of P5 pupils at Burnfoot Community School, who are working with artist Jane Gaze on an exciting design proposal for a viewpoint up on Galalaw. The pupils are creating a design based on the traditional sheepfank - a circular dry-stane structure used by farmers to enclose sheep. Sheepfanks are a very distinctive feature of the Borders hills.
As part of their research, the children have gathered information about local flora, historical buildings and the changes the area has undergone over the years. At the Heritage Hub they examined historical maps, aerial photographs, and also original architectural drawings for the houses on the Burnfoot Estate.
The pupils then exercised their architectural and plan-reading skills by drawing birds-eye view plans of the Hub’s exhibition area.
Image: the exhibition area at the Heritage Hub, as well as the cars parked outside and the curlicue outdoor seats.
Image: detail of light fittings
This morning I was invited up to the school to see what the pupils have been working on since their visit to the Hub. The final proposal display is being set up in school today, and the children have designed individual stones for the sheepfank, each representing a different view from Galalaw, including what’s underfoot! Spot a glimpse of the Heritage Hub, complete with turret.
Posted by: Sarah
