YOUNGSTERS celebrated as a new outdoor play area opened at their school.

Students at Northwood Primary School in Darlington were given the chance to test out their new trim trail inspired by the school’s office manager Clare Readman.

She noticed many of the youngsters didn’t have gardens and wanted them to experience nature and explore the ground’s wildlife.

Miss Readman said: “I grew up on a farm so I’m incredibly passionate about the children experiencing the outdoors.

“It shocked me that many of the children didn’t have gardens so with their help we created one. They absolutely love it and are always asking to weed and water the land.

“It’s been great seeing the kids get involved in the outdoors.”

Children at the school have even grown vegetables in the nursery garden and harvested them to make soup, something Miss Readman hopes will be a regular treat.

The school self-funded its new trim trail built by Discovery Construction Ltd.

Headteacher Zoe Beach wanted a play area which could challenge all ages and felt the existing trim trail, built in 2010, wasn’t challenging the older year groups.

The trim trail has been created to work on the children’s motor skills. It has obstacles set up as a circuit.

Owner of Discovery Construction Ltd, David Chadwick, wanted the area to work on their balance and team work.

He said: “It will be great for group activities as we have designed it in a way the children can take part in games and learn teamwork.

“We had a couple of the kids testing it out the other day and they thought it was great.”

The school wanted their eco-focus to be reflected in the play area and built the trim trail using renewable sources.

Head teacher Zoe Beach, hopes to use the grounds to wider the school's curriculum following the school's Ofsted success earlier this year.

The school’s combined outcomes for English and Maths more than doubled since 2016.

Mrs Beach said: “We’re looking beyond the classroom and looking at our school environment as a learning resource.

“The area has seen such a huge transformation.

“The new trim trail will challenge our youngest children and also our older years.

“The children mentioned they wanted more opportunities to understand wildlife in the area and felt like they weren’t challenged by the old trim trail which is why we chose to develop the land."