Pupils, parents and teachers were delighted with their handiwork as they created an art trail in the woods using recycled items.

Romford Recorder: Wood walkWood walk (Image: Oakfields Montessori School)

From plastic coke bottles and napkins to table cloths and wine corks, Oakfields Montessori School, Harwood Hall Lane, Upminster, has been collecting all sorts to build the trail.

The project took place in an unused part of the woods within the grounds of Harwood Hall where the school is based.

Headteacher Laura Ciftci said: “It was a joy to record the daily progress made by the children once the project got under way.

“Suddenly the realisation of just how successful the legacy of this project will be was quite overwhelming!

Romford Recorder: Wood walkWood walk (Image: Oakfields Montessori School)

“Probably the most rewarding element for all concerned was the ownership given to the children for this project.

“It was wonderful to watch their expressions as they realised that language, drama and art can simply evolve with their ideas at the heart of the project, steering the direction and design.”

The school also enlisted the creative mind of presenter of children’s TV show Art Attack Lloyd Warbey who helped to piece the artwork together.

Children aged three to 11, accompanied by their teachers, visited the woods to get their hands dirty and made their contributions to the project, including painting stones to place on the artwork.

Lloyd later returned to the school after the project was completed and brought Pop-Up Drama, a theatre workshop company, with him to co-write and orchestrate a play with Year 6 pupils celebrating the school’s values, including passion, discipline and curiosity. The play was performed under the gazebo set up in the woods.

The art trail space will be used by the school throughout the year for reading, drama and other outdoor activities. Lloyd said: “It was such a great week, fantastic school and children with the most amazing parents who got totally stuck in to help.”