Pupils reclaim field from rabbits (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Pupils reclaim field from rabbits

5:22pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008 in

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DELIGHTED pupils made a jubilant return to their school's sports field on Tuesday (April 22).

Children at Itchen Abbas Primary School have endured months of cramped playtimes since Hampshire County Council closed their recreation area amid safety concerns last June.

A rise in the local rabbit population devastated the school's playing field, causing £15,000 damage and making it unsafe for pupils to use.

It was re-opened on Tuesday after the county council funded repairs to the field, which included resurfacing it and installing rabbit proof fencing around its perimeter.

Reporting a clean bill of health from pupils' first lunchtime on the new surface, head teacher Andrew Robson said: "It's been wonderful, everybody's delighted, especially that we had such a lovely sunny day and the field has been mowed too, so it's looking splendid."

Mr Robson added he hoped the local community would come and see the sports field in action during the school's open day on Thursday, June 26.