THE grounds of a primary school have been transformed into an oasis of learning.

St Peter and St Paul's RC Primary School unveiled their magical garden for children to work, rest and play this week.

Work to create a green space in the school which is close to Bolton town centre has been a real community effort with children, their parents, members of the community and the services of a professional started before the long summer holiday.

Children — and staff — were able to enjoy it for the first time on the first day of autumn this week.

The school successfully bid for £10,000 of funding and an extra £7,000 was raised by pupils, staff and locals.

Trish Grogan, headteacher, said: "It was such a beautiful day for the children to use it.

"The garden is just so beautiful and tranquil.

"It is an oasis of learning."

Features include a large wooden picnic bench where children can also work, wooden logs to sit on, a story chair and equipment where pupils can create their own adventures.

Mrs Grogan said: "Parents and relatives helped to get the grounds ready for the work to be done by Darren Power who creates outdoor learning environments.

"We wanted it to include all the children wishes and they told us what they wanted.

"It also includes the school motto 'dream, believe, achieve."

She added: "Children are just so excited about the new garden and they are always asking when they can go on it.

"We took children in for storytime, and afterwards they created their own stories in the garden, it was just magical.

"Parents were also invited to join their children for storytime before the end of the day."

Mrs Grogan said: "It is so humbling to see the reactions of the children to the garden and how the parents have helped."