PUPILS at Castle Mead Primary School in Trowbridge are being urged to let their imaginations take flight in a new bat cave they have all helped to build.

Around 260 children – from early years reception to Year 6 – all helped to weave a willow strand into the new bat cave they built in June.

The 6-feet tall structure is built on a metal frame and situated close to the school entrance. It was designed and built with help from local artist Mary Cross from Organic Matters.

Early years lead teacher Rachel Brotherton said: “Mary came and worked with the children to build the bat cave. Everyone from the nursery class to Year 6 had a go at weaving a piece of willow into the structure.”

Building the bat cave combined lessons in both art and design and technology and the children were able to learn new skills during the construction process.

The bat cave will now be used by pupils as a quiet place where they can sit and read stories during play time and allow their imaginations to grow.

“They really enjoy sitting together in a cosy space and they all have had great fun in the cave sharing a new experience and learning a new skill.”

Teachers are hoping that with regular care and maintenance the bat cave will last a long time.

The school is staging a ‘Batty About Reading’ display after pupils worked very hard over a three-day period in June to create the hand-woven bat cave.

All the school’s classes are named after different species of bat. The school uses an upside down bat as its logo because it has protected species in the area.

Jennifer Reid, chair of the school’s Parents Teachers Association, said the children had raised funds through cake sales, discos and glitter tattoos to help build the bat cave.

“Now we are encouraging them to sign up to the book reading challenge across Wiltshire over the summer.”