PARENTS, carers, families, businesses, a charity and members of the community in Bridgwater have helped create an outside area complete with a 20 square foot pond for pupils to enjoy.

The project at Willowdown Primary School will add to their forest school.

Over the summer, the community around the school joined with volunteers and organisation Trust Green, which assigned its staff to help the latest stage of the plan.

The new facilities aim to boost mental health and wellbeing, as well as providing many opportunities for outside learning.

Headteacher Natalie Sweet said: “The future is exciting for our pupils, their carers, families and community.

"This is our latest development of the site to ensure our superb fun learning environment is made even better.

“Being outside is vital for children and their development, and Willowdown is focused on developing the outdoor space for more outdoor learning.

“Families have got right behind the project. Many local families attended the event and enjoyed seeing the development of the pond, taking part in a nature hunt and building bird boxes.

“Trust Green have been supporting the school and we are so grateful. They have helped to create the pond area.

“CRS Building Supplies kindly provided the paving slabs and watermarque gave a discount on the pond lining."

Ms Sweet started as headteacher in September 2022 and is committed to developing the school and the outdoor space is one of the current projects.

The school, staff, parents and community are planning several improvements over the coming year.

The school being supported by joining the Futura Learning Partnership, a multi-academy trust that serves the communities in and around Bridgwater, Bath, Bristol and Clevedon.