Ayrshire College proudly marked National Tree Week by celebrating the success and continued growth of Brighten Our Campus, a student-led environmental enhancement project championed by Student Vice President, Connor Skipsey.
What began as a simple yet meaningful idea has grown into a transformational movement across all three Ayrshire College campuses. Connor pledged to launch Brighten Our Campus with a clear vision: to create wellbeing gardens and introduce carefully selected flowers and plants across the college environment, nurturing spaces that uplift, inspire, and offer moments of calm amidst the pace of college life.
From its inception, the project aimed to do more than brighten pathways and plant beds. It sought to encourage pride, belonging, and a deeper connection to nature among students, staff, and visitors. The initiative quickly captured the imagination of the college community.
Reflecting on the journey so far, Connor said:
“Seeing this project come to life has been incredibly rewarding. The goal was always to create spaces that make people feel welcome and give them a moment to breathe. Watching students and staff take pride in these new gardens and green areas shows just how powerful small environmental changes can be.”
The project reached an exciting milestone when Connor proposed the creation of an official Ayrshire College Flower. After researching native blue flowers that reflected the college’s identity, he produced a shortlist and invited students and staff to vote. The Blue Columbine was ultimately selected as the official flower of Ayrshire College.
With the symbolic flower chosen, the project moved into a new phase. Over the summer, Connor collaborated with Barry Morton, Head of Facilities, Estates and Sustainability and members of the Horticulture Department, lecturer Francis McCaughey and technician Mark Haining, to develop a planting plan for each campus.
Barry expressed his support for the initiative:
“Connor’s passion has brought a fresh energy to our campuses. Working alongside students and the Horticulture team has created a real sense of shared ownership. These improvements don’t just change how our grounds look, they also help change how people feel when they arrive at college each day.”
This phase included planting Blue Columbines throughout the grounds, complemented by seasonal flowers, fresh shrubs, and vibrant planters that brought new energy to previously overlooked areas. Importantly, the project also created paid work-experience opportunities for Level 4 and Level 5 Horticulture students, offering hands-on learning and real-world skills development.
The team then marked a significant moment in the initiative’s journey with a Tree Planting Ceremony, featuring Kilmarnock Willow, Monkey Puzzle, Cherry, and Fig trees. Each species was chosen for its symbolism, resilience, uniqueness, renewal, and nourishment, and together they form a living extension of the abstract art sculpture at the Kilmarnock Campus, originally designed by former HND Art and Design student Jean Muir. Ayrshire College is grateful to Dalkia, the college’s facilities management partner, for generously donating the trees.
As National Tree Week was celebrated across the country, Brighten Our Campus entered its next chapter. Winter bedding plants and spring flowering bulbs have been planted, ensuring the initiative flourishes through every season.
This student-driven project has already made a lasting impact, transforming Ayrshire College into a more vibrant, welcoming, and environmentally connected place. It stands as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when students lead with purpose, creativity, and care for their community, one bloom at a time.