SIXTH formers from Royal Wootton Bassett Academy recently started building a path, orchard and chicken coop at Rowdeford School, near Devizes, as part of an annual outdoor project shared by the two schools.

The year 12 students moved 40 tonnes of top soil and set other projects in motion during their two-day visit to the special school in July.

Head of year 12 at Wootton Bassett, Sarah Vaughan said: “For the last six years Royal Wootton Bassett Academy students have spent two days in the last week of the summer term completing community work at Rowdeford School.

"In the past we have cleared areas ready for outdoor classrooms, scrubbed moss off bridges, built stiles for use by the Duke of Edinburgh Award students, woven a willow arch and generally helped to tidy up the outside areas.

“This year the students have moved 40 tonnes of top soil and prepared an area for seeding which will provide a turfed route to the outdoor classroom that is being created in the stable block. They also weeded and prepared a small orchard area for planting and started work on preparing the chicken coop for new residents.

“Our students really enjoy the work and giving back to the community where some of their fellow younger students spend time. Head of year 13, Alan Powell, and I work with Rowdeford’s John Craze on the tasks each year and everyone involved gets an immense feeling of satisfaction when we see the areas being used by students.”

Rowdeford School is a special school in Rowde that teaches children with complex needs and includes a lot of outdoor learning in its curriculum.