PRIMARY school pupils swapped workbooks for wellies for the first instalment of an exciting new project at the Three Counties Showground.

St Matthias Primary School, from Malvern Link, took part in activities including fishing, pond dipping and looking after animals at the showground on Friday, November 14.

A brand-new ‘pond-cam’ allowed pupils, from years three and six, to peer into the depths of the stocked-pond and see a range of fish going about their daily lives.

Charlotte Farney, aged eight, proved to be a dab hand at fishing and particularly enjoyed taking them off the line.

She said: “Fishing was my favourite part. I liked it when we had to touch the fish. They were all scaly.”

The Three Counties Agricultural Society ran the day of activities in partnership with Newent-based Young Anglers Project and the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.

It hopes to make the most of the bountiful resources at the showground with continuing projects for young people.

Sue Hodgson-Jones, education officer for the agricultural society, said: “A lot of these kids never get access to things like this.

“It’s a long-term commitment for us to work within the community.”

The school is currently engaged in a project to grow its own vegetables in a specially-constructed plastic bottle green house.

Pupils, parents and teachers are in the process of collecting 2,000 two litre bottles to make the green house in the school’s grounds.

Deputy headteacher Jon Stevens believes it may prove to be a useful tool to promote healthy eating.

He said: “We would like things to sell in the tuck-shop in school. We could have carrots, peas, potatoes, a whole range of things.”

Money raised form the sale of these fresh vegetables will be ploughed into a Tanzanian school that St Matthias has strong links with.

St Matthias teacher Jenny Elt hailed the day’s activities as a great success. She said: “The children have loved it and been so enthusiastic. We’re going to try and get all of the school down here at some point.”

The school’s involvement with the Three Counties continued yesterday when they took a stand at the Farming Conference yesterday. they are also expected to be working with garden designer Alex Bell, on what could end up being medal winning stand at the Spring Gardening Show 2009.