YOUNGSTERS can now experience learning in the great outdoors thanks to a donation.

Bellway Homes made a donation to Longparish Little School to help it buy items for forest school sessions which are run twice a week at the pre-school.

The forest school initiative is an educational approach to outdoor, nature-based play and learning, and in this case, is set within the woodland around the village.

Manager Claire Nash said: “We are naturally delighted to receive this donation and we have bought amongst other things, binoculars, magnifying glasses and bird feeders. We have a covered area and so every week, whatever the weather, the children have the opportunity to play and learn more about our environment.”

The donation was presented by Bellway Homes Wessex Region sales manager Jon Rance.

Mr Rance said: “We very much like to be involved in the community and the forest school seems a fantastic idea.

“It will be so beneficial to the children and we wish the school every success with this project.”

The forest school encourages youngsters to be active with lots of physical activities to help develop both fine and gross motor skills.

It also helps children develop many skills that are harder to teach in a classroom setting.