Kemnay Academy pupils win competition to create film about village quarry

An Aberdeenshire school has won a national competition to create a film highlighting the story of Kemnay Quarry.

Pupils from Kemnay Academy will receive £500 for the project after being announced as the winners of the My Land, My Story film competition.

It was organised by the Scottish Land Commission, in connection with Visit Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, to raise awareness among young people of the positive ways land can be used across the country.

25 pupils, from the environmental sciences and media studies departments, will work together to show how the land at the quarry has been transformed.

While still operating as quarry, a community space with an upcycled art installation, walk routes and recreational spaces have also been created.

Granite sourced from the site has been used for the Forth Road Bridge and the Scottish Parliament building.

Land with a rich history

Susan Buchan, principal teacher in the science faculty, said: “The land of Kemnay Quarry is of real historical importance to the area and wider community.

“It’s fantastic to be given the opportunity to get our pupils involved in showcasing and learning about the land use at the quarry while expressing themselves creatively.

“We’re now able to use this piece of land as an outdoor learning space, recreational area and a route for walking groups. It is a brilliant example of land that has a rich history and continues to be reinvented.

“Around 70% of people at the school don’t come from the Kemnay area, so it also gives us a great chance to promote it. Not only has this encouraged pupils to learn more about their local land but it is also an extremely proud moment to win the competition.”

Screening in Edinburgh

All of the pupils will travel to Edinburgh on December 1 for the My Land, My Story closing event, where their film will be projected inside the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

Hamish Trench, chief executive at the Scottish Land Commission, said: “The film competition has not only given younger people in Scotland an opportunity to be creative with film, it has also highlighted examples of how land is used in Scotland to benefit everyone.

“The Kemnay Quarry is a prime example of land benefitting multiple groups and communities.

“Everyone at the Scottish Land Commission is looking forward to seeing the results of Kemnay Academy’s hard work next month.”