The Vital Energi workers, who are delivering the £10 million Torry Heat Network for Aberdeen City Council, spent a day talking to the children of Tullos Primary School about the climate emergency and also worked in Tullos Community Garden as part of a community engagement day.

The children took part in an energy audit of their classroom to find out how energy efficient it was, learned more about the Torry Heat Network, and planted their own sunflower to take home.

The Torry Heat Network will supply heat for 146 flats in the three high rises at Morven Court, Brimmond Court, and Grampian Court, Deeside Family Centre, along with Provost Hogg Court and Balnagask House, Tullos Primary School, Torry social work office, and about 150 homes in Balnagask Circle, Balnagask Court, and the Farquhar Road stub blocks.

The heat will be supplied by the energy from waste plant which is being constructed in East Tullos industrial estate to dispose of non-recyclable waste from Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, and Moray Councils.

Councillor Christian Allard, Aberdeen City Council Capital convener, said: “It is fantastic that Vital Energi staff have been helping out at Tullos Community Garden, and the talk to school pupils was important in promoting a better understanding of the nature of the project.

“The heat network promises to make a difference to our tenants living in the local area by being a low cost and low carbon source of energy.”

Vital Energi pre-construction engineer Victoria Wallbank and Project Director (North) Hugh Thompson visited the school as part of a wider range of community benefits events.

He added: “This is a great project and an exciting opportunity to teach the children of Tullos Primary School where the heating for their school will come from, when it’s connected to the network, and why it’s better for the environment than traditional heating methods.

“We created our climate education initiative to empower young people, teach them about climate change and help them make greener choices which will have a positive impact on the environment. It was fantastic to see these children so engaged and enthusiastic and enjoying taking part in the activities.”

After spending the morning with Tullos Primary School, staff from Vital Energi and sub-contractors CHAP Civils visited Tullos Community Gardens for the first of many Dig Days where they volunteered their afternoon and skills to provide a much needed “spring clean” to areas of the garden.

Gardens such as Tullos provide a green space for locals to engage with others in their community while proving beneficial for wellbeing and the environment.