A SCHOOL in Worcester has had its garden fully refurbished by a nearby housing developer.

Cranham Primary School in Warndon worked with Sanctuary to transform its outdoor areas as part of the developer's nearby housing development.

Now work has been completed, the school's outdoor areas have been zoned with new fencing and a separate woodland area for pupils to learn about nature in forest school sessions.

It has been delivered through Sanctuary's "MORE!" programme, which supports community projects in places where it is building new homes.

Sanctuary is building 34 new homes near the school, with 14 currently occupied and the remaining 20 to be completed by September this year.

Cranham headteacher Nick Cale said: "I’m really pleased to see all of the children enjoying the great outdoors.

"Learning outdoors really enhances our curriculum and it gives the children opportunities to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the world."

The school garden will also include recycling and composting zones where teachers can help the children connect with nature and understand more about the environment.

Colleen Eccles, Sanctuary’s head of place shaping, added: “This outdoor learning area transformation is a wonderful example of how we can add extra value in the communities where we build new homes.

“Connecting with nature is such an important learning experience and I hope that the pupils of Cranham Primary School will enjoy the new facilities for many years to come.”

With the new area prepared, pupils will be able to encourage birds, insects and small animals to nest.

In the future, they may also be able to make birdboxes and hedgehog houses on site.

Council planners backed the Sanctuary housing plans back in 2019, with the original application being sent in two years earlier.

The roughly rectangular brownfield site in Warndon, which is bordered by Rodborough Drive, Brookthorpe Close and Chalford Drive, has been left to waste ever since a care home was demolished in 2015.

For more information about Sanctuary’s MORE! programme, visit www.sanctuary-homes.co.uk/more