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SCHOOL'S ADVENTURE TRAIL GETS GO AHEAD

An adventure trail for a primary school in Hawkinge is o­ne of 27 projects in Kent to receive grants in the latest round of the Lottery's Awards for All programme.

The Churchill School PTA in Hawkinge is receiving £10,000 to build the adventure trail in the school grounds.

The trail will be laid with low-level equipment, such as swinging steps, a rope bridge and wobble boards, designed to strengthen young children's upper body, and their co-ordination and balancing skills. It will be built over a soft and safe all-weather surface.

"We are delighted to receive this Awards for All grant," said the PTA treasurer Colin Simpson. "The adventure trail is something that the teachers at the school have wanted for a long time. The most expensive part is the surface. It is made from a molten rubber that is poured o­n to the trail and is non-slip and soft so that the children won't hurt themselves. The trail will be suitable for children aged between 4 and 11, and will be available to young people in Hawkinge and surrounding villages."

Head teacher Jennie Carter said she took her hat off to the parents who had helped.

" The facility will be offered to local nurseries and childminders as well as holiday playschemes" Mrs. Carter said.

Awards for All is the small grants scheme administered by the Big Lottery Fund o­n behalf of Lottery good cause funders, Arts Council England, Big Lottery Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England. The scheme makes awards of between £300 and £10,000 to grass roots community groups and voluntary organisations.