THE first steps towards creating a sensory garden at a school in Thornbury have been taken.

Around 20 members of Castle School Friends took part in a gardening day on Saturday.

Vice chairman Justin Warr said: “We removed trees and dense undergrowth which was like a jungle, this has opened up a 75m stretch ready for ground works. All the waste was removed for green recycling - well over a dozen builders’ bags worth.

“Parents, teachers, and friends joined in from 8am and we finished at 3.30pm. We had lots of laughs, and one male teacher who shall remain nameless will know not to wear jogging bottoms next time after some painful brambles stuck to his legs!

“After lots of hard graft we completely transformed the overgrown area and levelled it which was a great result as we hadn’t realised quite what a task we had taken on.”

“This is the first step towards creating a new Special Educational Needs quiet space which will be a wonderful addition to the school.”