IT may be the start of autumn but the fall out of Kelty achieving gold status in the Beautiful Fife competition has seen young gardeners playing their part to help the village community council Greening Group maintain the standards achieved over the past year.

And on Thursday pupils from Kelty and St Joseph’s Primary Schools had their spades out as they busily planted berry bushes at the Community Orchard, in the Wildlife Garden, that has been created as part of the Garden Allotment Complex, off Main Street.

Joining them was MSP and plot holder, Alex Rowley, who before the children got down to work, presented each school with certificates marking the work that they did in the creation of the Wildlife Garden which greatly impressed the Beautiful Fife judges.

At the centre of the garden is a pond which designed to attract all sorts of wildlife to the site.

Alex Rowley told the children: “This really is a magnificent feature and you have all played your part in achieving this.

“Today you are planting a mix of berries, which follow the apple trees which were planted recently, and these will grow making the Community Orchard a lovely facility.

“As a plot holder myself here it is excellent to see so many young growers taking an interest in developing this excellent facility and in the coming months the apple trees and berry bushes will develop into fruit that the community can enjoy.”

With guidance from Joanna Willi, from the Fife Council Biodiversity Unit, the KPS and St Joseph’s youngsters dug the holes to take the berry bush plants and then filled them in leaving them ready to develop crops of fruit next year.

After they had finished their planting the youngsters got their litter pickers out and cleared away any debris leaving the site looking resplendent.

The Greening Group’s Paul McDonald said: “The children from the two schools really have done a magnificent job over this year and they really like to learn about planting things and then watch them grow.

“Their contribution made a difference to Kelty getting the gold award at the Beautiful Fife event.”

And Community Council chairman, Fred Clark, said: “The youngsters’ enthusiasm is boundless and whether it is planting or clearing away litter they just love to get on with it.

“Their work went a long way to helping us achieve gold status.”

Community Council chairman, Fred Clark, said that it is hoped that a walkway can be developed into the centre of the pond to add to its attractiveness.