Primary school improving wellbeing with nature

Children were shown how to paint bat and bird boxes

A mining company has helped a primary school in Cornwall to improve pupils' wellbeing by planting flowers and installing bird boxes on the school's grounds, its bosses say.

Volunteers from Imerys, which produces and processes industrial minerals, spent time with children at St Stephen Churchtown Academy in St Austell and helped classes plant wildflowers and fruit trees, the company said.

They also showed the children how to paint bat and bird boxes, and build insect hotels, it added.

Lisa James, head of the school, said the benefits were improving the "social and emotional wellbeing" for the pupils.

Recycled materials were also used to create picnic benches and work tables.

Ms James said: "The bird and bat boxes tie in with science, wild flowers and planting can be linked with our art, and we have provided a sensory space for our children, and even healthy eating from our new fruit trees."

Pete Sawford, EHS field officer Imerys said: "We went above and beyond by providing benches to the school, as well as art sets so that they can go away and create art about their new found nature knowledge."