Youngsters don their wellies for forest fun

Photo: Anthony Miller

PUPILS at Diggle Primary School who have been involved in building dens in the school grounds.

CHILDREN in Diggle have been busy den building after a school secured £10,000 for new playground equipment.

Pupils at Diggle Primary School as well as nurseries in the surrounding area will benefit from the forest fun outdoor toys.

New hides for watching wildlife, a fire pit and rope bridge are among the adventurous outdoor accessories funded through The Big Lottery Fund.

Head teacher Sarah Newton said: "We are blessed with a stunning location on the edge of open countryside and ­- regardless of whether the weather ­- our children go outside as much as possible.

"They love their local environment and these new facilities are making our outdoor learning even more fun and vibrant.

"Instead of being restricted to books and websites, our pupils put on their wellies, go out into nature itself and experience real animals and real habitats.

"The new facilities enhance this even further and are helping even the youngest children to learn about working together as a team.

"Shared experiences build vital skills such as resilience and responsibility, which are already a strong focus of our school.

Diggle Primary School, in Sam Road, already boasts two acres of green space, a forest area and around 20 chickens which are cared for by pupils.

A fire pit for storytelling, den building equipment and an outdoor classroom structure for all weathers have now been added to the open-air activities.

Ground Designs UK carried out the work at the school following a successful funding bid to The Big Lottery Fund.

A forest fun event was held last Friday when children used natural materials to create pieces of art and enjoyed other nature-related activities.

Mrs Newton said: "We would like to thank Ground Designs UK for doing a great job and the Big Lottery Fund for donating £10,000.

"Their generosity will have a brilliant impact."

The school has a good rating from government watchdog Ofsted and caters for around 190 pupils.

The forest-based accessories are also being used by Diggle Dandelions, a nursery which sits within the school grounds.

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