JOHN Keble School in Hursley will kick off its 'Operation Outdoor' campaign later this month with an afternoon of tree-climbing, woodcarving and bushcraft.

'Treefest' will officially launch a fundraising campaign to build a number of outdoor classrooms and zones so pupils can learn in their school grounds which improves well-being, according to studies.

Cheryl Rickman, campaign chair of the parent-teacher association and author of The Flourish Handbook, said: “There's a growing body of evidence which prove that outdoor learning at regular intervals improves concentration and attention levels, boosts creativity, well-being and socialisation and enhances sensory and cognitive behaviour.

“With the positive effects of outdoor learning so widely documented and with children spending more time indoors in front of screens than ever before, we decided to do something about it with a fundraising campaign called 'Operation Outdoor'.”

Treefest, which will be in the school grounds on Sunday, November 30, will include tree-climbing, a falconry show, tree-crafts, story-telling, face-painting, game, raffles and a barbecue.

Once the school has built the outdoor zones, children will help to weave a willow tunnel to one of the zones at the end of the playing fields.

The school has the full support of the leadership and of teaching staff. Hampshire County Council and Hilliers Garden Centre will be helping with the design.

The parent-teacher association is now looking for support from local businesses to sponsor outdoor zones.

Entry to Treefest costs £1. Tree-climbing costs £10 and pre-booking is essential.