Year Three children from Sandringham School in Forest Gate are creating an “outside learning classroom” in the park in Plashet Grove.

Newham Recorder: Sandringham School pupil's designs for the learning area in Plashet ParkSandringham School pupil's designs for the learning area in Plashet Park (Image: Archant)

Thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding, youngsters aged seven to eight have been visiting the park and are designing a sensory garden, seating area, and insect habitat.

Sarah Saddington, a teacher at the school, said: “They are hoping to have a sensory area and the children have been designing seating areas and bug houses so we have been looming at what materials insects like.”

Eight-year-old Abir Rahman, described the project as “very creative and really nice”: “if you go there, you are not just having fun but also learning about things.

“I’m excited for the sensory garden. There will be flowers to smell and pipes that make noises, like wind chimes.”

Newham Recorder: Sandringham School pupil's designs for the learning area in Plashet ParkSandringham School pupil's designs for the learning area in Plashet Park (Image: Archant)

Tia McKenzie, also eight, said: “I have enjoyed taking the trips to the park and learning about nature.”

The park was the perfect place for the children to learn about nature, Sarah explained: “It’s a 15-minute walk from our school so we can walk the children down.”

Sarah said that 120 children - the entire year - are taking part, which is “ a lot of children for the project, but we feel it’s important for them all to be involved, to get that sense of achievement.”

Managing such a big group has been made easier thanks to the help of volunteers, she explained: “We have had a lot of parents get involved and join the trips. We are really lucky to have parents who want to get involved in the project.”

Newham Recorder: Sandringham School pupil's designs for the learning area in Plashet ParkSandringham School pupil's designs for the learning area in Plashet Park (Image: Archant)

Anna Yusuf, activity coordinator at Active Newham, who is organising the project from the park’s end, said that there will be plenty of opportunities for local people to take part: “After half-term they re going to be coming down and helping to dig in the flower bed, and the project will continue over the summer with other volunteers getting involved.”

She added: “We hope it will be open for schools to visit by September.”