THE mayor of Barrow said she had a ‘lovely’ time at the grand opening of a school’s new outdoor wildlife area.

Dane Ghyll Primary and Nursery School has revealed its newly restructured outside space which has been turned into a Wildlife Area to encourage birds, frogs and other creatures to visit.

Barrow Councillor Judith McEwan, who has just become the town's mayor, was invited to the school for a grand opening on May 20.

Pupils at the school, on Skelwith Drive, have recently been busy planting trees which were kindly purchased by the school PTA. They have also added new seating and benches for pupils, as well as grassed areas where the children can sit and keep an eye out for little creatures.

The wildlife area features bird feeding tables, a pond where lots of frogs can live and lay their tadpoles, a wormery that turns kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost and a mud kitchen.

After cutting the ribbon, Cllr McEwan sat in the new Story Tellers chair and spent time with the Year Six students as they read stories.

She then presented the children with certificates from the UK’s leading gardening charity, The Royal Horticultural Society, who offer qualifications to help enrich people’s knowledge about gardening.

Dane Ghyll’s Head Gardener Louise Postlethwaite said: “All year groups have worked extremely hard in the school gardens and we have now received certificates to Level Five, the Royal Horticultural Society’s highest and final level.

“The school received these awards following the children's success in completing three separate areas of gardening for each level. Therefore the children have completed 15 different categories in total.”

Alongside his wife, Councillor Bill McEwan also attended the event and enjoyed a tour of the school gardens.

The Deputy Mayor also opened the newly covered polytunnel, which was recovered by apprentices from Kimberley Clark.

Representatives from the company were invited to the school and were presented with a tomato plant which the children had grown from seeds as a gesture of thanks alongside the deputy mayor and Councillor McEwan.

Councillor Judith McEwan said: “I had such a lovely time.

“I was delighted to cut the ribbons for the wildlife garden and also the new polytunnel donated by Kimberly Clark.

“The garden is beautiful giving lots of pleasure for all the pupils. It's amazing the amount of produce they grow, and the children are very proud of all they do. They have won numerous awards both locally and nationally which are so well deserved.

“With dedicated staff and very happy children, the school is a delight. My husband and I were also presented with a tomato plant to take home.”