On Monday 24th August, P3-7 and secondary 4 went to the peat hill to bag peats for the school. First Mr Garrick split the primary children into groups of 3 and each group had a secondary pupil. We walked to where the school peats were then we started bagging. We stayed in our groups and each took a bag. Most of the peats were bone dry. Because the peats were so dry there was a lot of dust, so we had to wear safety goggles. It was really hot but quite windy. I was in a group with Ishbel and Marley. When we finished filling a bag we had to lift it to the side of the road. The bags were super heavy but the secondaries were there to help. We had to fill lots of bags and we had to keep moving since there were so many of us. While we bagged peats Mr Garrick took the bags to the school in a trailer.
Certain spots were very muddy but it was very fun and tiring. I saw a spider in one of the bags when I carried it down to the road. We filled over 100 bags altogether for the school. Everyone worked really hard.
We also did some research on Shetland peats when we got back to school. Here is what my group found out:
Peat is cut for burning in fires in many parts of Shetland. They make great fuel but the stages they go through take a while. First the heather and grass is removed from the top of the peat bank. Next the peat is sliced into brick shapes with a special tool called a tushkar and it left to dry out. After a few days the peats are raised into small pyramids to let more air reach them. Then when they are properly dry they are bagged and brought home. By Elsie Msalila
