Dirleton Solar Walk launched: encounter all eight planets

Youngsters at Dirleton Primary School, alongside staff at Heriot-Watt University, the University of Edinburgh and Glasgow School of Art, have joined forces to create a scale model of the solar system.

Dirleton Solar Walk shows the difference in size among the planets, as well as the space between each one.

Dan Arnold, an associate professor at Heriot-Watt University, was delighted with the finished result.

He told how the youngsters at the school had played a crucial role in the project in doing the various calculations.

The solar walk's version of the sun can be found in Dirleton (Image: Contributed)

Now, with the “little treasure trail” in place, he hoped that similar schemes could be created elsewhere.

He said: “It really is part of the school.

“Now, we are building out to other schools.

“I have been to Gullane and am trying to get into Law Primary School and going from there.”

The smaller version of the universe is created in a 1:3.6 billion scale, meaning that every step a person takes represents millions of kilometres in space.

Now, people are being invited to have their own version of the space walk as they encounter each of the eight planets and the asteroid belt as they cover a 1.2-kilometre section of the John Muir Way.

The sun can be found at the centre of Dirleton, while the furthest-away planet, Neptune, is located in Archerfield Walled Garden.

Each stop in the solar system comes with a QR code and features a clear Perspex plate with a colour image of the planet, showing its surface details and appearance.

Above the image is a silver ball to represent the planet’s size according to the installation’s scale.

The solar walk stretches from the centre of Dirleton to Archerfield Walled Garden, taking in the various planets, including Uranus (Image: Contributed)

Mr Arnold, who has been working alongside staff from the other two universities, as well as Iain Stirling of Chapelhill Fine Furniture, through the project highlighted the message behind the scheme.

The father-of-two, who lives in the village, said: “At the Dirleton Solar Walk, our mission is to encourage children to discover a passion for science, maths and astronomy through experiencing the wonders of the solar system.

“Through this project, we hope to promote science and STEM.

“By providing an engaging and interactive model of the solar system, we aim to spark interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in schools.

“Develop student-led learning: students are at the heart of this project, engaging with the installation and researching interesting facts and material to share with the public.

“Create an accessible educational resource: the solar walk is a valuable resource for children and teachers in Dirleton and other schools, fostering a collaborative learning environment and a sense of community engagement.

The project has involved youngsters at Dirleton Primary School and three universities (Image: Contributed)

“Promote the importance of dark skies: we highlight the cultural heritage, health benefits and ecological significance of dark skies and, through this project, we advocate for their preservation, instilling a sense of responsibility and commitment in our community.

“Encourage visits to our village: the solar walk invites people to explore our beautiful village of Dirleton, blending educational pursuits with local tourism.”

Funding came through Gullane Area Community Council, which also covers nearby Dirleton.

Simon Paterson-Brown, a member of the community council and Dirleton Village Association, felt that it could attract people to the area.

He said: “Linking with the school, the school kids and the knowledge about the stars and the planets, it is just one step further than the classroom.

“They can see the distance between the sun and Neptune and all of the other planets.”