A LOCAL primary school has spruced up its outdoor space with equipment provided through a lottery grant.

Ghyll Royd School and Pre-School in Burley-in-Wharfedale was recently successful in its application to Learning Through Landscapes – a leading outdoor learning and play charity.

The charity’s ‘Local School Nature Grants’ are funded by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. To date the charity has provided over £900,000 worth of outdoor equipment to over 800 schools across England, Scotland and Wales.

During Ghyll Royd’s Science Week, pupils enjoyed using their new equipment in the school’s seven acres of grounds. Children dug and fitted a pond in the nursery garden, built houses for toads and installed a hut for hedgehogs.

A project officer from Learning through Landscapes taught teachers a few outdoor learning techniques and put them to the test making their own tents.

Ghyll Royd School’s grounds have been awarded gold standard by the Woodland Trust and the pre-prep and prep school is continuing its efforts to become the first Platinum standard primary in the Wharfe Valley.

Headteacher David Martin said: “Thank you to Learning Through Landscapes for providing the training and equipment which allows Ghyll Royd to enhance its outdoor offering for our school and pre-school children. We are fortunate to have passionate teachers and the most wonderful space to take our lessons and learning outdoors every day. All children get at least one hour for playtime plus three physical education lessons a week. We also enjoy multiple lessons outdoors thanks to our provision. This year we have rented out our fields to local sports teams, church groups and even a wedding and in the summer we will be holding a bushcraft event to say thank you to our local community.”

Ghyll Royd School holds several Eco School Day events throughout the year to encourage a healthier, active lifestyle whilst also teaching the children more about the environment.

The school grounds will be open during Burley Summer Festival for a ‘Burley Bushcraft’ session for children aged three to 11 years old.

Booking for this year’s Burley Summer Festival events opens on Saturday, July 20, 2019. More information is available at http://www.burleysummerfestival.org