Ferryside School has beaten off competition across Wales to win the silver award in a Royal Foresty Society initiative.
The school’s partnership with local woodland co-operative, Panteg Wood, impressed judges of the society’s 2015 Excellence in Forestry Schools Award.
The scheme aims to improve the children’s understanding and appreciation of the role of woodlands.
It gives the children the opportunity to visit a woodland managed by coppice rotations for the production of charcoal.
Education Manager of the Royal Forestry Society and competition judge Phil Tanner said: “Projects on ash dieback and the wood processing cycle demonstrate the importance Ferryside School placed on pupils being aware of the importance of trees and wood products within their daily life.
“The value of Ferryside’s woodland education is evident within the school and the local community.
“Winning the silver award of the RFS Excellence in Forestry schools award provides Ferryside with the recognition that their efforts to provide first class woodland based outdoor learning deserve!”
Headteacher Jayne Davies said: “I feel immensely proud of our success in this highly-esteemed national competition and grateful to all the staff, pupils, governors and members of the local community who have worked so diligently during the past year to establish Panteg Woodland in Ferryside as an inspirational learning tool.
“Physical, practical, hands-on experience in the beautiful outdoors has led to a positive improvement in pupils’ enthusiasm for learning and has impacted upon cognitive skills, raising standards in all areas of the curriculum.”
The prize money will go towards establishing a multi-sensory woodland area on the school grounds to stimulate learning and the senses, which will particularly benefit pupils who have visual and hearing impairments.
Evergreen trees will be planted to provide shaded areas, herbs for scent, wildflowers for colour and bamboo grasses for sound.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s education executive board member Cllr Gareth Jones said: “Congratulations to all at Ferryside School for winning this prestigious award and gaining national recognition for their woodlands project.
“The award is well deserved and I’m sure they will all now be looking forward to using the multi-sensory area once it has been developed.”
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