FOR the past four years a school in one of Bolton's most scenic areas has been improving wildlife on the school grounds.

Eagley Junior School, off Chapeltown Road, Bromley Cross, has made massive improvements to its woodland school grounds through a string of projects that have included creating a pond, woodland trail and bird watching screen.

Now the pupils have received recognition for their environmental activities at a regional conference in Preston, where they were awarded certificates for their work for Wildlife After School projects (WASP).

Teacher Mathew Taylor said: "A lot of the work has been done by Bolton Wildlife volunteers, and they got lots of children involved in practical activities."

Other work at the school has also been carried out by the pupils, inlcuding planting bulbs, while at the same time learning lots about the environment and science.

Through the creation of the pond -- which has a wooden bridge across it, children have learned about science and through their planting learned about the way things grow.

This summer teachers will take the children pond dipping so they can get an even closer look at nature.

A track and steps have been created in the school woodland, and work has also been started on an Elizabethan knot garden. Further improvements are planned for a school field.

An artist in residence has done a willow weave in the school grounds to add to the wildlife ambience.

Parents have helped to fund the project and the school has also enjoyed the benefit of environmental grants.