A SCHOOL has been granted thousands of pounds to give a makeover to a woodland area and share it with the community.

St Edwards’s RC Primary School in Blackburn Road, Darwen, has been given £10,000 by the Big Lottery Fund to do up the site which will be used to enhance pupil’s outdoor education.

But at the same time, groups including Kitten’s Preschool, local Brownies, Guides and Scouts groups and private childcare providers will be able to use the facility.

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The cash will be spent tidying the currently ‘boggy’ area which is ‘unsafe’ for use and adding equipment such as storage containers and planting tools.

Headteacher Gerard Keane said he is envisioning a ‘grand opening’ when the work is complete in May.

He said: “The idea behind us doing this is partly because we want children to interact more with the environment.

“But at the same time its to do with having pride in the local area with it serving a real purpose for community groups as well.

“We are quite lucky in Darwen with access to the countryside but at the same time there is not a lot of this type of facility.

“We are planning to hold a Spring fair in May once it is finished and invite a wood sculptor who will do some sculptures for us to display in the site.”

The wooded area will be open to any other community groups who feel they can make use of it.

The school, rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted last year, already has an outdoor classroom that is used in lesson time but this area would be additional to that for out-of-school activities.

Pupils will be taking part in activities such as crafting picture frames and jewellery out of things they find in the wood, identifying trees and learning about caring for the natural world.

Mr Keane said: “We want the children to give nature due care and respect.

“It is very important that we have these activities going on outside the curriculum.”

Ginny Taylor, deputy manageress at Kittens Preschool. said: “We think it is fantastic that they woodland area will be very close to us and we will make good use of it.

“Our children will love going on walks there and exploring.

“Without this facility we have to go a long way to get a scenic walk, it would be right along the main road to Sunnyhurst Woods.

“We will go on bug hunts, collect things, and look for fairies. We are really looking forward to the opening.”