A SCHOOL is celebrating the launch of its new nature learning area after more than a year was spent fundraising for the project.

Conifers Primary School in Weymouth officially opened the spruced up nature area with a dress-up fun day at the end of September, where headteacher Andrew Johnson cut a golden ribbon to mark the opening.

He said: "It’s been planned for around a year and a half now.

“The idea is that we’re trying to enhance our learning environment to be more stimulating. Sometimes children’s natural curiosity can be squashed when they are sat in a classroom. It benefits their health as well.

"We want the children to have the opportunity to go outside three times a week to learn.”

The new nature area has been funded through the hard fundraising work of the Friends of Conifers Primary School, as well as parents, staff and students.

Families at the fun day were treated to a special talk from Nick of Bugfest, and a look at some spine-tingling creepy crawlies including cockroaches and tarantulas. There were also stalls, games and a BBQ on offer while kids and adults alike dressed up as their favourite bugs.

Sarah Anthony, Year 1 teacher, said: “Our nature area needed quite a lot of work.

“Thanks to the Friends we now have a brand-new fence, a sensory area and a pond with new decking where the children can go fishing. We have lots of new seating and benches. It’s been brilliant.”

Sammy Stevens is a parent and member of the Parent Teacher Association. Her daughter Eliza, six, and son Logan, nine, both go to Conifers school, and she says they both “absolutely love” the new nature area.

She said: “I think the outside learning here is amazing.

“Conifers really do try to get the kids to foster the culture of outside learning.”

"Kids are happy when they’re outside doing stuff, and in the curriculum you can involve all subjects. This is just the beginning. As the years go on more will be added to it and it’ll grow."