School children are learning while getting their hands dirty in the great outdoors.

They have been taking lessons outside in a new forest school shelter at Blackawton Primary School.

The forest school sessions, run by Clare Cremona, Mel Triggs and Polly Agar, give a new perspective on learning, using the natural world to teach the curriculum.

Clare said: ‘This approach, which lets the children get their hands, and everything else dirty, is proving a great way to teach kids throughout the school.

‘It provides a great change of environment and engages kids who may find traditional classrooms a challenge.’

The school is so happy with this new way of learning that it has built a new forest school shelter to make outdoor learning a year-round part of teaching.

The project has been supported by the National Lottery’s Big Lottery Fund, which has also paid for cooking equipment, tools and outdoor clothing to get things off to a flying start.

Headteacher Tom Pether said: ‘We have always looked for ways to use our fantastic countryside to help to engage and teach our pupils. This new shelter lets us expand our outdoor teaching to reach all our children throughout the year. It is an important part of how we deliver the curriculum.’

It will be formally opened at a ceremony today by Roger Davenport, of South Devon Nature Trust, which is also backing the project.

Roger said: ‘I want to thank the school’s staff. It is great to see the enthusiasm with which the school is teaching using the nature around it, giving these children new insights into their world.’

The shelter was designed and built by Tim Wilkins of TW Gardens, Harbertonford.

Teacher Rachel Burris added: ‘We were so keen to get using the shelter that Tim had to wait to put in the finishing touches while we ran our first sessions.

‘The shelter will also be enjoyed by the local community for outdoor activities, which strengthens the school’s relationship with our lovely village.’