AN environmental quiet area costing more than £15,000 has been created at a Worcester school.

The space can be used by children who want to relax at playtime. Plans are also in place to incorporate the new addition into Pitmaston Primary School’s curriculum so pupils can learn more about the environment.

It all forms part of an ongoing ambition to achieve Eco Schools award gold status.

The school in Malvern Road already has silver and bronze awards.

Headteacher Tim Ireson said the quiet area included picnic table seating, a herb garden and a weather station, among other features.

“We are thrilled to bits with it,” he said. “Whenever you go there it brings a smile to your face.”

Mr Ireson said the project, drawn up by the Bishops Wood Environmental Education Centre, Duckworth Worcestershire Trust, with the help of children on the school council and eco committee, was funded by the friends association.

Mr Ireson said the quiet area “adds another dimension to an already positive playground experience.”

He said: “We have got 600 children going through the school and we feel this is actually very good value for money in terms of the amount of usage it is going to get over the years to come.

“It’s robustly built and adds to the other playground experiences.”

Mr Ireson said the children were really pleased with the outcome and that he thought the quiet area would be well used.

“At times they want to just sit rather than race around,”

he said. “Others might potentially have a medical problem and will want to sit quietly. It’s also good for quiet conversation and social interaction of a different kind other than physical sports.”

Mr Ireson said that while the school was “thrilled”

with the outcome of the project – work began in the summer and it was formally opened in the presence of the friends association – plans are already in place to expand the school’s curriculum to “make the most of our horticultural heritage”.

“We have ambitions to develop an eco garden so children can understand about planting, growing, recycling and sustainability as part of the curriculum,”

he said.

PICTURE CAPTION: QUIET PLEASE: Pupils from Pitmaston Primary School, Worcester, enjoy the silence of the new environmental quiet area.