Youngsters at a primary school near Penrith have created a new pond in a secret garden as part of an initiative to make outdoor learning an integral part of the curriculum.
Pupils at Clifton Primary School have done all the work themselves, from designing the pond itself, digging the hole, adding the pond liner and making the area around the pond safe.
The development of the new pond coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week, which is run by the Mental Health Foundation.
In a study, it found that going for walks outside was one of our top coping strategies and 45 per cent of people said that being in green spaces was vital for looking after our mental health.
Sarah Threlkeld-Brown, headteacher, said: “Learning outside the classroom is an integral and important part of our curriculum; the children get to experience nature and the outdoor environment almost every day, exploring, learning, and having fun in our secret garden and nature garden areas.
“We have our own bespoke outdoor learning curriculum which has been developed over the past three years.
“Nurturing our pupils is at the heart of everything we do at Clifton and seeing happy children coming to school every day is one of the most important aspects of our pastoral care here.”
