STUDENTS at a Portishead school have received a special award for turning a piece of unused playground into a wildlife area. Greenfingered pupils at High Down Infants School were presented with a Watermark Award by Chris Plenty of Wessex Water at a specia

STUDENTS at a Portishead school have received a special award for turning a piece of unused playground into a wildlife area.Greenfingered pupils at High Down Infants School were presented with a Watermark Award by Chris Plenty of Wessex Water at a special ceremony this week.The main landscaping work for the wildlife area was paid for by funds raised by the school's parent teacher association. The cash will be used to buy items such as plants, shrubs and compost bins for the wildlife area.Headteacher Andreya Cowan said: "We are delighted to get this support from Wessex Water as we have a wealth of ideas for use of the area throughout the year, not least of which is the ongoing links with the science curriculum."The children are very keen to encourage wildlife into the school grounds and we have already purchased a bird table for the area."A planting week involving the teachers, parents and pupils is planned when enough money has been raised.The Watermark Award provides funds for environmental projects within the Wessex Water area.It is organised by The Conservation Foundation and all projects are judged by a panel chaired by its president David Bellamy.