A HAMPSHIRE primary school has unveiled its garden based on the biblical psalm, The Lord is my Shepherd, after two years of work.
Romsey Abbey Primary School officially opened the space on Friday, October 6.
The garden is on a previously unused patch of land, and includes a small stream, places to sit and a wooden structure for outdoor learning.
It was created with the help of garden designer Bean Nicholson. Romsey Men's Shed and Elliotts Builders Merchants helped with construction and materials.
Headteacher Mark Harris said: "Two years ago, the Bible Society created a Psalm 23 garden for the Chelsea Flower Show. We saw it and thought we could do it at school.
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"We had a big overgrown area that needed to be transformed, so we decided to build our own Psalm 23 garden. It will be a daily space where children and staff can come a break times just to have that quiet space where they can be still and they can be prayerful if they want to. It's a place where they can enjoy the beauty of the nature around them.
@hampshire_chronicle Romsey Abbey Primary School’s brand new Psalm 23 garden
♬ The Lord is my Shepherd (“Vicar of Dibley") - Salisbury Cathedral Boys & Girls Choir & David Halls & Simon Lole
"Clearing the area was a big undertaking. We raised the funds bit by bit. It will continue to grow and develop as the years go on. The children will be involved in maintaining it and keeping it nice. It was designed to be sustainable."
Ms Nicholson said: "Mr Harris wanted to create a garden using this space along the lines of the Psalm. I put together some ideas to try and encapsulate the meaning of it and the atmosphere. To travel through the woodland, through the dark corners and the light corners and the narrower spaces and the wider spaces.
"We've kept spaces for whole class sessions, undercover and outside. There are also smaller spaces where people can sit and be quiet. Also more social spaces, so hopefully it carers for everyone."
Acting Bishop of Winchester, The Rt Rev Debbie Sellin, said: "Having a space for children to be able to be calm and reflect is really important for their wellbeing. There's something about being absorbed in nature which is really important. Also the spiritual aspect of it encourages children to think spiritually and think about God.
"More and more schools are recognising the need for spaces for reflections. To be able to stop, and think and be calm is very important."
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