Friday March 6th 2026
Councillors Winchester and Parry with the children, many dressed up for World Book Day. Councillor Imrie is at the back on the right with Head Teacher Helen Reed also at the back.
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Pupils at Paradykes Primary School are now enjoying an exciting new trim trail — complete with an all‑weather wet‑pour safety surface — due to more than four years of dedicated partnership working between the school, Parent Council, pupils, ward councillors and Midlothian Council’s Neighbourhood Services team.
The project began when children highlighted the inadequacy of existing playground areas and called for more purposeful, engaging spaces to support active play. Working through the school’s P4–P7 Pupil Power Group, pupils redesigned the playground layout and created a video presentation for elected members, setting out their vision for a trim trail and explaining how it would transform their playtime experience.
With no available budget for playground upgrades at the time, Head Teacher Helen Reed approached the Parent Council to explore whether the school community could help bring the children’s ideas to life. The Parent Council then led almost four years of fundraising—supported generously by parents and the wider community—raising approximately £10,000 to fully fund the trim trail equipment.
As plans progressed, the school identified the need for an all‑year‑round wet pour surface, ensuring the equipment could be safely used without turning the surrounding area into the ‘mud bath’ that children had also raised as a concern. Ward councillors, Kelly Parry, Pauline Winchester and Russell Imrie, were approached and agreed to contribute around £8,000 from their discretionary budget, enabling the surface to be installed and completing the project.
The final stage involved Midlothian Council’s Neighbourhood Services hard‑landscaping team, led by David Magee, who worked closely with pupils to bring their design to life. The team—well‑experienced in installing similar play features across the area—were met with cheers and daily encouragement from the children as the trim trail took shape.
Head Teacher Helen Reed said:
“This project is a brilliant example of partnership working at its best. Our Pupil Power Group drove the vision, our Parent Council and families worked tirelessly to raise funds, and our councillors and neighbourhood services colleagues helped us ensure the trail is safe and usable all year round. We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved.”
Parent Council representatives expressed pride in the community effort, noting that the project reflects what is possible when families, school staff, pupils and local partners unite behind a shared goal to improve opportunities for children.
The new trim trail is already proving popular, offering pupils a safe, stimulating and long‑awaited space for physical activity and imaginative play—delivered through the combined commitment of the school community and its partners.
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