A new outdoor learning area - designed by pupils at Elmstead Market Primary School in Essex - has been unveiled at a local Woodland Trust site.

The facility, which will sited near archaeological remains of a Neolithic hut, is currently being developed at the 104-acre (42-hectare) Elmstead Wood. The outdoor learning area was conceived by clothing retailer TK Maxx, with students in Years Four, Five and Six entering a competition to come up with a layout for the facility.

A sun-dial will act as the centrepiece to the learning area, with 12 seats - one for each hour of the clock - allowing a class of up to 24 pupils to benefit from outdoor lessons. John Brown of the Woodland Trust said: "The trust hopes this learning area inspires the children to develop a life-long affection for UK woodland, which is vital if we are to realise our long term vision to double native woodland cover in the UK."