PARENTS of children who attend Cunningham Hill Junior School in Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans, have created a new pond and wildlife garden area for pupils' use.

The garden has been dubbed the jubilee garden and commemorates not only the reign of the Queen but also the 40th anniversary of the school, which opened in May 1962.

Headteacher Richard Dawson said: "The school already has a large open playing field and two playground areas but it is lovely for the children to have a quiet, restful and picturesque area to work in."

The children are free to sketch or just sit quietly by the pond and watch the frogs and insects that are attracted to it.

The architect of the project was parent Mrs Jackie Ward who headed up a team of dedicated parents for the months of hard work, mostly on evenings and weekends. The school's Parent Teacher Association provided the funds.

The garden was officially opened last week by Mr Richard Ball, chairman of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust who talked to parents and children at the school about the value of creating gardens in urban areas.

Five-year-old pupil Amy Clark said: "It's really lovely, I brought in a frog for the new pond and I can't wait to see how he settles in."

June 19, 2002 17:30