PUPILS and staff members at a new primary school in Poole have celebrated the unveiling of their new garden.

Heatherlands school children and teachers gathered for a special ceremony to showcase their new garden - developed to help the children broaden their learning.

The newly refurbished garden contains 21 raised beds - one for each class for planting - and cost £25,000 to develop.

It was covered by the school's increased budget after developing from a first school to a fully-fledged primary school, in 2013.

Head teacher Christian Malone said: "One of the things we have been trying to do at the school is not only make sure we have got a good curriculum; we have also been trying to make sure the children have a broad and balanced curriculum, taking into account the outdoor space in the school.

"One of the key things I wanted to do was to let the children have access at the school to grow crops etc and even sell them at various opportunities and it's an area of the school we're keen to develop."

Vicky Wales, head of children, young people and learning for the Borough of Poole, was on hand to officially declare the garden open, alongside the school's deputy head teacher, and Sarah Plumb who has been busy orchestrating the garden project since it began.

Also in attendance were Dave Coleman and Nicola Horobin who run lunchtime and after-school gardening clubs.

The two-month long project was completed by The Landscape Group, and contains room for wild plants and fruit trees, and the new pond has already attracted newts and frogs.

Green-fingered children planted runner beans, pumpkins, tomatoes, raspberries, strawberries, potatoes and herbs in the run-up to the ceremony on Tuesday, May 3.