SEATING and shade is being provided for youngsters at breaks and mealtimes in a special garden at Bredon Hill Middle School.

As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, the Ashton-under-Hill school is working with Guy Redmond, landscape designer, and Paul Adams-Groom, a local artist, on the construction of the garden.

Pupils and parents have the opportunity to create designs based on Native American Culture which will be burned into large planks of sycamore from a local supplier. The designs will then be coloured with special wood dyes. The planks form the basis for a large pergola over an attractive seating area in the playground.

Deputy head Anne Wylie said: "A performance space featuring rustic seating and another unusual overhead structure will also form part of this exciting project. Local businesses and parents have donated plants to help add the finishing touches and later in the year we hope to plant trees to act as a windbreak and add further interest."

Staff and students has been working with partner schools in Holland, Hungary and Germany as part of the Comenius Project over the past three years. The current theme is the environment and all four schools have been looking at ways of improving their grounds.

"We at school are very impressed with the enthusiasm with which this project has been received and would like to thank all who have helped make it possible," Mrs Wylie said.

The celebrations marking 40 years of the school culminate on June 18 with an anniversary dance in the school grounds. Former pupils of the school will be most welcome and tickets are available from the school office on 01386 881426.