A NEW wildlife garden has taken shape at Mere Primary School during the summer holidays, with help from local teenagers.

Garden designer Angela Tettmar collaborated with pupils from the school’s eco club to develop the design for the new outdoor learning space and natural play area.

Adding to the existing pond and vegetable beds, the new garden area features raised walkways and viewing platforms, hidden dens, sensory plants, bird tables and bug hotels, a textured path of recycled materials, and a fire pit with a storytelling and teaching area.

Teenagers from Mere Youth Centre acted as peer leaders and worked with a group of children aged 11 and 12 to make and paint wooden nest boxes, a tepee and a bench for the garden.

The teenagers got involved as part of the National Citizen Service and they also helped with fundraising activities to enable the project to go ahead. Part of the funding came from the school’s Fireworks Festival in November last year.

As a reward for their work, the children were taken on a camping and water sports trip, which was also organised and led by the older group.

Headteacher Catriona Williamson said: “We are so grateful for all the hard work put in by the young people from the youth centre and everyone else involved in making this garden a reality. It has been a real team effort and the children are in for a real treat when they come back to school.”