SCHOOL children from St Andrew’s Primary School in Chedworth have been learning all about rivers with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

Pupils aged between nine and 11 took the chance to leave the classroom to spend some time on the banks of the river Eye at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve Greystones farm in Bourton on the Water.

As well as learning about the features of the rivers with Will Masefield, Cotswold community wildlife officer for the Trust, students were armed with nets to go river dipping in the Eye, that flows into the river Windrush.

Tina Buck, headteacher at St Andrew’s school said: “To have such a brilliant resource on our doorstep is fantastic. We use this to help in our science and geography curriculum and our children always feel enthused about the things they have seen and can enjoy the countryside, as well as learning about conservation. Long may this all continue.”

Funding from Western Power Distribution helped to pay for the event. The company has donated £5,000 towards Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s education programme, which aims to inspire and educate children throughout the county about their local wildlife and wild places.

The Trust still needs to raise a further £7,000 to fund their continuing education programme.

* To find out more abut the Trust’s education programme visit www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/inspire-a-child