VIDEO: Ingfield Manor opens woodland area

The resource consists of a large outside space so children at the school, which caters for pupils aged from three to 19 with cerebral palsy, are able to have lessons among the trees and learn more about the natural world.

On the day students welcomed children from St Mary’s C of E school in Pulborough and passed on their knowledge about the trees in the woodland.

Ingfield Manor head teacher Catherine Allison said: “It is amazing - it can help us hit curriculum targets in such a positive way.

“Nature is so important and research shows that being out in nature is good for you at any level, so for our kids who often don’t get these opportunities it means everything.”

Four tepees have been added to the site, while there is also a camp fire that pupils have already used to cook their lunch.

The Woodland Project was the brainchild of David Spreadbury-Troy, the woodsman at Ingfield Manor.

He said: “I have found the project to be very rewarding - it gives me an awful lot of joy to see the expressions on the children’s faces and how much they enjoy it.

“They have been doing maths, literacy and science out here so it has had some good use already.”

The development would not have been possible without £13,000 donated by The Friends of Ingfield.

Don Newport, the chairman of the group, said: “It is always nice to see the results of what the Friends’ money is being spent on.

“The opportunity it gives the children to interact with other schools is great.”

The children themselves were enthusiastic about the new resource - Luke, 13, said: “It is absolutely brilliant.”

15-year-old Patrick added: “I’m looking forward to cooking stuff on the camp fire, that will be really cool.”

Tyler, 15, said: “I want to learn more about the trees and I can do that out here.”

For more information visit http://www.scope.org.uk/schools/ingfield-manor-school