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Crieff in Leaf | Small Town Language School

by Ruth | Aug 8, 2019 | Language School Social Events, Learn English in Perthshire | 0 comments

Crieff in Leaf team| Small Town English language School

Team Crieff in Leaf pausing for a tea break

Small Town Language School = Big English

This blog post celebrates learning English in a friendly, rural community rather than heading for the bright lights of a big city.

There’s no doubt that the UK has some great cities to learn English in! We are not claiming to be better than any of them!

But a small town language school can offer a different kind of English language immersion – more personal one!

A week isn’t really long enough to miss any of the great things that cities have to offer.

But a week is long enough to get a right good feel for a place and actually get to know a community if you are being guided through it well.

 

For example, in today’s blog, we are going to introduce you to a local community group, Crieff in Leaf.

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Small Towns Versus Big Cities

I think talking about community groups is a good way to get a taste of how a small, friendly language school in Scotland works well when compared to a big language school franchises within a city.

 In a city, you barely scratch the surface of any visitor experience (all you can do is consume).

In a small town language school, you get to meet with the community much more, find out the history of the place, find out the contemporary social issues of the town and of course, leave a mark – your own. 

You just would not get experiences, or the layers of information that make up a knowledge of a place, like the one we are going to share here.

 

 

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Meet Crieff in Leaf

We’ve been wanting to champion the green army, Crieff in Leaf for a while now.

For those who don’t know, Crieff in Leaf is the team of volunteers who’ve been transforming Crieff’s public spaces for over 25 years with their gardening prowess.

They fundraised, commissioned and managed the wonderful family of ‘coos that welcome arrivals to Crieff from their grassy outlook on Burrell Square.

They’ve put/improved benches, planters, hanging baskets, gardens and decorative signage through the communal areas of our town.

And they’re out and about in our streets tending to their plants through all kinds of Scottish weather (usually the wet kind) for all our community’s benefit.

Just try to imagine what Crieff would look without their hard work and expertise and you have to agree they make our town glorious!

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Blue Noun English Language School Chat with Crieff in Leaf

Today, we invited ‘The ‘Leafers’ into Blue Noun to introduce ourselves and find out a little more about the Crieff in Leaf organisation.
 
We spoke with Juliet Hughes (AKA Chief Leaf) the organisation’s Vice-Chair, who’s been hands-on involved for 15 years, Sandra Cambell a second Chief Leaf management member with 11 years of involvement, Kate MacAuley, a volunteer gardener with some 9 years with Crieff in Leaf and Margaret Morrison, Treasurer (and clearly the Money Tree Leaf) with an impressive 20+ years given to supporting this organisation.
 

 

Comrie Apple Festival Perthshire Food and Drink
Comrie Apple Festival Perthshire Food and Drink

Crieff in Leaf at Blue Noun English Language School 

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An Important Message for any Local Readers

Crieff in Leaf have had their green fingers in some terrific transformations in the town and seen the High Street change enormously for both good and bad (no, they did not plant the trees growing from the walls of the abandoned hotels).

 

Perhaps we have all become just a bit too used to a good thing? Crieff in Leaf has an uncertain season ahead. Its core demographic is ageing and new recruit numbers this season are critically low.
 
The team meet every Wednesday from February onwards.


It’s a social, fun group that needs to increase its wealth of reliable volunteer drivers, waterers and experienced management people (as well as gardeners) to ensure it continues its dynamic path in the future.

 

If you’re tempted, but an inexperienced gardener – don’t worry. I can’t think of a better way to learn!
Crieffs Cowches Artist Katy Galbraith
Crieffs Cowches Artist Katy Galbraith

Crieff looks splendid in the summertime – and it’s largely down to this group of volunteers!

The Leafy Coos | Burrell Street Coos

In addition to gardening the community’s flowerbeds, Crieff in Leaf do a lot of fundraising and have commissioned sculptures for the town.

The leafy coos are diagonally opposite our English language school – and are a much-admired tourist attraction.

At a time when local government investment in places seems at an all-time low, thank goodness for the energy and foresight of volunteers and community organisations! 
Leafy Coos | Crieff Cows | Crieff in Leaf

Crieff’s Leafy Coos in Winter

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thank you message

Thank you, Crieff in Leaf

For visiting Blue Noun English Language School and telling us about the work your organisation does.

Like this blog?
You’ll Love our Talk of the Wee Town!

Further Information

 

If you care about the impact your English language school has on its local community, be sure to read our Social Action Policy.

7 Reasons for Choosing a Small-Town Language Holiday. 

Tips: Go Rural or Go Urban? 

Want to show some love? Like/Follow Crieff in Leaf on Facebook.

 

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email: ruth@bluenoun.co.uk

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