A BRAND new learning and play area has been unveiled at Great Dunmow Primary School. The area – a garden which was designed by the children – comes complete with a bird hide and birdbath, logs for insects, buddleia for butterflies and a hedgehog house.

A BRAND new learning and play area has been unveiled at Great Dunmow Primary School.

The area - a garden which was designed by the children - comes complete with a bird hide and birdbath, logs for insects, buddleia for butterflies and a hedgehog house.

There is also a vegetable and herb plot so that the children can learn how to grow their own produce, and seats and wooden sculptures to give pupils the opportunity to enjoy some quiet time.

Headteacher Sylvia Ruck said: "The children can learn so much from it and also have the added responsibility of looking after it.

"It is great fun and allows them to learn while they play. The garden can become outside classroom with its many environmental features, or a quiet area for the children to go at lunchtime."

The makeover came thanks to a �4000 grant from RBS Supergrounds Award, a �6 million, six-year investment initiative launched by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group to improve school grounds.

Great Dunmow became involved in the scheme through a parent, who works for the bank and suggested the school put in an application for the grant.

Each child of the school had to come up with their plan and design for a new garden - the overall winner was the design by Year Five pupil Honor-Mae Scultock-Pape. Parents, children and staff then set to work to complete the work.

"Everyone has worked so hard to transform what was a derelict piece of ground into an absolutely beautiful garden," said Mrs Ruck. "The children are so excited about it. It really has caught the imagination.

"Every pupil also decorated a big pebble for the garden, which will be the start of a tradition for all new pupils of the school."

You can order pictures of the opening at www.myphotos24.co.uk

Pictures: Nick Thompson