WORK has begun on the renovation and development of Collingbourne Primary School’s wildlife garden after a successful bid to secure funding from a parent focus group.

The group's main objective after it formed in November last year was to transform the overgrown wildlife area into a new sensory garden to provide outdoor educational facilities for the children.

Vicky May, 35, of Collingbourne Kingston, said: “The garden had to be shut after it had become unsafe for the children to use so we started the project and received grants from the Collingbourne Ducis and Kingston parish councils as well as Tidworth Area Board.

"In total we were given the sum of £4,000 to help towards this work.

"We started work this week and by the end of it we will have an area for outdoor classes.”

Mrs May, who has been a part of the focus group since its inception, was also nominated for a Tidworth Area Award for her work on the project.

“I was nominated and won the award for this achievement. It was a big surprise, I am very happy about receiving it. But it isn’t just me who has worked hard for this. Nicky Hall, Karen Thompson, Sherry Dauki, Leanne Casey-Batley, Shaun Batley, Ros Pardoe and Debs Clark have all been part of this project since the start,” added Mrs May.

As well as receiving the grants from the Parishes and the Area Board, the group has also gained support from Ryan and Richard Lee as contractors, Tom Gleeson of Ardent Hire for donating a three-tonne digger, Bright Seeds LTD in Salisbury for wild flower seeds for the garden and Homebase Andover which has offered help to carry out the works.

“When it is finished we will have filters in the pond and a bridge across it so the children can do some pond dipping, we will also have habitats for bees and other insects to pollinate and live there. We will also have a remembrance garden where wreaths and poppies can be placed on September 11 and Remembrance Day,” added Mrs May.