The work is the culmination of a three-month project between South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (SLLC) and pupils of East Kilbride’s St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School.

It all started when park staff approached their counterparts in the arts and culture team to ask for help brightening up an area of the site where children can sit and play in sand with toy diggers.

The team knew the project would interest the students they were working with at St Andrew’s and St Bride’s, so they challenged them to create images reflecting the zoo’s wide variety of plants and animals.

SLLC in-house art tutor Kayleigh McCallum (pictured above) then led them through the process of researching, designing, and manufacturing the artwork in the form of six large murals, recently given pride of place in their new home at the zoo.

Claire Armour, Arts Development Officer explained: “I was approached by the horticultural staff to work on the idea of 'sprucing up' an area in the zoo which is under cover where the children’s diggers are.

“Having agreed with the art department at SASB that they would like to be involved, Kayleigh went into the school over a couple of weeks to work with students on drawing images that took inspiration from all things found in the zoo and conservatory. 

“It was eventually decided there would be six mural panels – two depicting indoor plants, two outdoor plants, and two animals – and that these would incorporate each individual drawing produced by the pupils.

“Everyone involved is delighted with the result, which is a great example of teamwork across different parts of the Leisure trust and our council Education colleagues.”

Artist Kayleigh described the project as “fantastic … from start to finish.”

She added: I was really impressed with the students’ talent, not only in creating their own drawings but in how they worked so well collaboratively on the murals. 

“It was a joy to have the opportunity to bring their creations to life within Calderglen in something bold, striking, and wholesome for the public to enjoy.”

Calderglen Zoo opened in 1982 and is home to more than 50 different animal species, some of which are critically endangered including meerkats, wallabies, coatis, otters, fennec foxes and a wide variety of reptiles and fish.

The zoo is open daily from 10am-4pm (winter hours) with the last entry at 3:30pm and costs £4 for adults and £2 for children. Admission for under threes is free.