CHILDREN at a Dedham primary school are delighted with their brand-new forest school area after a parents group helped secure funding.  

Dedham Church of England Primary School’s new site means each child in the school can take part in six weeks of forest school per year.

Forest school is a movement where children learn through outdoor settings in nature with Dedham Church of England Primary already having three trained forest school leaders.

The Dedham school also has access to a coppice – traditional woodland management - owned by Munnings Museum.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Learning - A seated woodland area Learning - A seated woodland area (Image: Submitted)

Children in the reception class were given their own new play area to enhance their outdoor learning and play and were "thrilled with it" on their return to school after the Easter break.

Laura Griffiths, forest school leader thanked parents for their donations and Dedham Vale Tree surgery for donating logs, and said: "We have been lucky enough to create an exciting new onsite Forest School area at Dedham Primary School."

"The addition of an extra site at school will mean we can further embed the Forest School ethos we have created; allowing extra sessions, encouraging children to build independence, resilience and confidence in a variety of ways through hands on outdoor activities."