CHILDREN in Puddletown are hoping that wildlife will have a splashing time in their new prize pond.

Water creatures are being encouraged to Puddletown First School where pupils' designs for a new pond won a countywide competition.

Now staff from Dorset Wildlife Trust pond are turning their plans into reality.

Puddletown First School was one of eight schools to win a pond in Dorset Wildlife Trust's Wild Water Competition, sponsored by Wessex Water.

Head teacher Viv Burgess said: "Our new pond is fantastic. We did have a pond before but it was full of weeds and there was no water in there. It is just lovely for the children to be able to see nature on their doorstep."

The pond will be used as part of science lessons and teachers hope it will help the children to appreciate nature.

Trust staff and parents spent two days constructing the wildlife pond and year four pupils helped to add plants .

The school also won free membership of the DWT Schools Wildlife Partnership Scheme that provides a variety of opportunities for more wildlife and conservation activities and information.