CHILDREN at Monkton Farleigh and South Wraxall School will start next year with a new pond and wildlife area, which was opened this week by one of the original pioneers of the idea.

Marion Womack re-turned to the school where she used to teach on Monday to formally open the new pond.

It has been relined and a path put around it so the children can enjoy their wildlife studies there.

Mrs Womack was part of the team who dug the original pond at the school 20 years ago. She said: "The new pond will be great for the children. They will be able to get at it better and more safely with the new paving around it."

Parents, pupils and friends turned out for the opening ceremony, marking the end of months of hard work.

Admin officer at the school, Rachel McDonald, said: "The animals and plants have all carefully been put back and there are already frogs, newts and dragon flies in the pond.

"The parents have work-ed really hard painting the benches and putting up bird houses."