A new sensory garden has opened at a village primary school in Braintree.

The project which began in early August at Shalford Primary also includes an all-weather outdoor play area, mud kitchen and a revamp of the pond area which has become so overgrown that children were unable to use it.

The revamp- by DRH landscapes has added jetties so youngsters can see the pond life from all angles.

Company director Darrin Hammond said: “I wanted to add my own creativity to the project, and I thought about what I would like to see if I was a child.

“It’s good for children to experience nature more and I would love to do more projects like this.”

The project also included features to help children get closer to nature, such as a bug hotel and soft touch cactus to highlight the different types of plants.

Garden designer Vicky Long said the project had been “very rewarding”.

“After doing many commercial contacts and private gardens alike, it was very rewarding for all of us to design and create a garden, specifically for the use of children in mind to help broaden their knowledge and enjoyment of nature. “