PUPILS at a Dorset school will benefit from a beautiful new outdoor area, giving them space to reflect and exercise when they head back to school.

A calm sensory, walk has been created by Dorset Council’s in-house Green Infrastructure Advice team and Landscape team for children at Puddletown First School.

The reflection trail has been constructed on a previously fenced off wild area with tall grass and scrub vegetation.

The brief was to design and construct a circular reflection trail for the children to use as a calm sensory space to walk around in small groups or individually.

Headteacher Dan Hunwick said he was pleased with the finished product: "We are delighted with our new trail and whilst the timing of its completion has not been ideal due to the current coronavirus situation, we are really looking forward to using it with our children.

"It will be a great space for children to choose to use to find some peace and quiet in our beautiful grounds, it offers fabulous views across our beautiful Dorset countryside enabling our children to appreciate the wonder of the natural world.

"It will also be used within our curriculum for both reflection and well-being as well as other elements of the curriculum. I would like to thank the Dorset team for all their hard work and creative design and our parents who through Friends of Puddletown School have raised the funds for this wonderful project."

Cllr Andrew Parry, Portfolio holder for Children, Education and Early Help, said: "The team have done an amazing job on this site. It is important that we offer school children an outside space where they can learn about the natural environment and enjoy the calming space."

There is a large outdoor learning space hidden behind the trees with views overlooking the valley. And different routes to explore while walking.

The sensory space has used a lot of the existing features on the site. These include tall trees to hide behind, large shrubs to touch as they are walked past, brightly coloured wildflowers to touch and smell which also provide a haven for pollinating insects. The views of the garden are also played with. Trees and timber walls obscure the views which then open into wide panoramic views once the learning space is reached.

Wildflowers will be sown in the autumn to increase the sensory and pollinator friendly aspect of the garden.