WASPS, wildflowers and whitethroats were just a few of the highlights for pupils visiting the Marvellous Meadows day in Bicester.

Pupils from Ambrosden Five Acres Primary and Foundation School became the first group to visit Meadow Farm, a nature site by the River Ray on the Oxon-Bucks border, as it reopened on Monday aftera £23,500 redevelopment.

Owned by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), Meadow Farm received a substantial grant from the Heritage Lottery fund in 2012 in order to develop its community engagement project, Marvellous Meadows.

Rachel Strachan, the community and education officer for BBOWT said: “The day was a particularly poignant one for both the Year Three Sycamore class children and myself.

“None of the children had visited our meadow before and said that it was the first time they had ever actually spent any time in a meadow of any kind, which we all found rather emotional.”

The children looked at different flowers and mini-beasts including butterflies, crickets and ladybirds at lava stage.

Ms Strachan said: “When the children left we asked them to fill out blank postcards and some of the entries were fantastic.

“They ranged from ‘bugtastic’ to ‘sitting in the meadow really calmed be down’ – which was wonderful to hear.”

Year 3 pupil Charlie Smith said: “I haven’t seen so many plants in all my life. It was a really good experience.”