CHILDREN, parents and teachers at a Collingbournes school have been weeding and digging to transform an overgrown garden into a wildlife and sensory facility in readiness for the new school term.

The disused garden area at Collingbourne Primary School is currently being redesigned into a wildlife area which will be used as an outdoor educational space with an adjoining sensory garden.

Featuring a remembrance garden, pond, wild flowers, bird boxes with cameras, a weather station and nature trail, the wildlife garden will be used as an open-air classroom with plans to set up an after-school club for families to learn more about nature.

Playtimes will then by enhanced by the sensory garden with a water feature, large outdoor xylophone, planters with lavender and herbs, wind chimes and an outdoor story area.

Parent Vicky May, who has been actively involved in the project, said: “It has been nice to see the parents involved get so passionate about this project and we are really looking forward to seeing the reaction of the children when they return in the autumn term.

They will hopefully benefit immensely from having the use of a wellequipped outdoor classroom facility where they can learn about the environment and ecology and add their own nature projects also.

“We would like to thank our funding providers and our skilled contractor Ryan Lee as well as all those who donated to the project.”

Instigated by headteacher Mr Mason, a parent focus group Children in the sensory garden was set up in November to begin work on transforming the overgrown garden, securing grants totalling £4,000 from the two local parish councils and the Tidworth Area Board, allowing the landscaping to begin two weeks ago.

With the help of donations and discounts from Bright Seeds in Salisbury, Homebase, Andover Signs, Ardent Hire, Mundy & Son Ltd and Wyevale Garden Centre, the new facility will be ready in time for the new school term in September