BRINGING a splash of green to a concrete playground is top of the agenda for one Worcester school.

Parents and staff at St George's Catholic Primary School want to re-open a flooded nature walk and replace condemned playhouses so that children can enjoy playtime in safer and more inspiring surroundings.

The school is one of 30 schools on the shortlist for the Cash for Schools competition we are running with Western Power Distribution.

Now they need your votes to help them win as large a share of the £25,000 as possible.

Sally Heyworth, chair of the Friends of St. George's School and a parent, said: "Ours is a city based school with very little green space.

"The school has access to fields adjacent to the race course for big events like sports day but on a day-to-day basis the children's playtime is mostly on concrete playgrounds.

"The school has identified the need to have more links to nature and have planted trees and created very small green areas where possible.

"This has enabled the children to participate in forest school which helps them learn about the environment around them which we obviously need to teach the next generation to nurture and protect.

"With this in mind, Key Stage One in particular need vital improvements to their playground to enable them to continue learning through play in a safe and inspiring environment during playtime."

Mrs Heyworth said flood damage at the school had swept away a nature walk which was the only green area in the KS1 playground.

She said: "The area has been marked out of bounds and unsafe.

"There are currently two playhouses to encourage imaginative play which have been condemned and therefore need replacing.

"The shed which stores outdoor play equipment has a leaking roof meaning equipment is deteriorating and will ultimately need replacing.

"In addition, the playground tarmac desperately needs repainting so that the children can play typical playtime games such as hopscotch and can practice number work through play."

The school is also hoping for a canopy in the playground so children can enjoy shade in hot weather and still get fresh air on rainy days.

Mrs Heyworth hopes Worcester News readers will vote for her school by collecting the coupons, printed every day in the paper, on the school's behalf.

Readers can vote as many times and for as many schools as they wish.