A CHEQUE for £250 has been donated to Westwood with Iford School to help build a wildlife pond as part of its plans for an outdoor classroom.

The school won the Wessex Water Watermark award for its environmental efforts, which include building the pond, raised beds, a greenhouse and growing plants and vegetables.

Lindsey Millen, a parent and volunteer for the school’s gardening club, said: “We have come up with a plan to make the most of our good fortune and this includes creating a pond with different levels to encourage and create different habitats.

“It will hopefully become the best possible environmental hands-on experience the children can have within their early year’s education.

“That is one of the reasons we are so thrilled to have this Watermark Award and to get on with building the wildlife pond as it is one of the central features of the school’s outdoor classroom.”

National Rail has given the school sufficient sleepers to build six raised beds and Tesco provided the workforce to build the beds as part of its team challenge.