A COMMUNITY woodland on the edge of Malvern is being used for a national education programme.

The Townsend Community Woodland, in Malvern Link, is playing host to the Teaching Trees project, funded by the Royal Forestry Society.

It is the first woodland in Worcestershire to become part of the scheme.

Led by ecologist Tim Kaye, it offers free outdoor sessions to schools who will learn about woodlands and how they are managed.

The first to take advantage of this was Madresfield Primary School who spent a fun afternoon learning about different species of tree, how trees grow and what they provide for mankind.

These sessions are adaptable for primary age children and linked to the national curriculum.

The charity is keen to get more people to visit the woodland, managed by the Malvern Hills Trust , which runs alongside Roman Way.

Jacki George, a teacher at Madresfield school said: “Thanks for such an enjoyable session, the pupils had a great time. We will be back.”

Mr Kaye is keen for more schools to visit.

He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to have some quality outdoor learning, what’s more it’s free and the transport is partly subsidised as well.”

For more information, contact tim.kaye@teachingtrees.org.uk or 01981 550043.