Children at Great Bedwyn School now have an outdoor classroom in a wood which once formed part of a royal hunting forest.

Under an agreement with Savernake Forest owners Crown Estate and tenant farmer David Homer, Great Bedwyn School has access to Old House Wood, near Chisbury.

A year ago pupils helped plant a small extension to the wood and last Thurs-day they went back to check on the saplings they had planted, help contractors Charlie Brainch and John Poulter replace those that had not survived, and to get a special award from the Crown Estate.

The children also received a new learning resource pack Forests for the Future from Angus Richards of Carter Jonas, the Crown Estate’s agents.

Mr Richards said: “Great Bedwyn School has the right to visit these private woods where the children planted new trees.