Wiltshire schools are being encouraged to take a leaf out of a Trowbridge school’s book after it won a national forestry competition.

Students from The John of Gaunt school have been awarded a special commendation by the Royal Forestry Society’s (RFS) schools excellence awards for woodland management.

The school faced tough competition from schools across the south west but its 20-year long commitment to improving Clanger Wood has proved a winner.

Year seven and eight children all take part in coppicing dates at the special site of scientific interest from October to April.

RFS education officer Debbie Cotton, one of the judges, said: “We were particularly impressed with the hands on nature of the project and its long term impact.

“This really is an inspiring project which clearly teaches young people how to care for, respect and understand their local woodland environment.”

A recent ‘chain of pearls’ project is creating sunny and sheltered glades along minor paths to encourage more wild flowers and the butterflies that thrive on them. Some pupils involved in the early years of the projects are now parents at the school and are getting their own children involved.

Deputy headteacher Mike Stevens said: “The project is designed to raise awareness of how woodland can be managed in a sustainable way but it has also been a memorable experience for the students.

“Some of our more challenged pupils in the classroom are the most enthusiastic and engaged in the woods. They become ‘experts’ supporting the work of perhaps more academically successful pupils who are nevertheless sometimes out of their comfort zone in the woods.”