It's a bugs life for Burley pupils

It’s on with the wellies for Burley pupils after winning a green grant from Northern Gas Networks to create a new outdoor classroom in their school grounds.

Burley Oaks Primary School have been awarded £1,000 as part of the Northern Green Networks programme which they have used to transform a previously vandalised corner of their grounds into an exciting outdoor classroom area.

Complete with willow tunnels, a wetland bog area and wildlife areas, the garden is already being put to good use by pupils keen to learn more about the wildlife in their school grounds.

Teacher Richard Sells explained: “We are lucky to have quite large school grounds yet this corner of land which has previously been targeted by vandals had been ignored. It is a great area as there are lots of trees and there is already plenty of birdlife in here.

“We have made it secure and turned into a brilliant outdoor classroom with different zones. We have an open area we can use for discussions and then we have built a willow tunnel to go through to a shadier area at the back which can be used for exploring the bug and insect life in the area and bird watching.”

Presenting the winners trophy from Northern Gas Networks, Deborah Yewdall said: “It is great to see this patch of land being put to such good use and the pupils getting so much enjoyment out of it. It is vital that young people understand and appreciate the environment around them, hopefully the lessons they learn in this outdoor classroom will stay with them for life.”