WITH spring just around the corner, pupils at an Oxford primary school are looking forward to getting out of the classroom and into their new-look nature garden.

Youngsters at Botley Primary School in Elms Road, Botley, will be able to get out and about in their recently revived outdoor area, which has been transformed with the help of fundraising from Oxford estate agents Savills.

The company made the primary school its chosen charity for 2007. And with the £3,000 raised through quizzes, auctions, raffles, sponsored runs and bring-and-buy sales, the school's once rundown nature area is now home to a new pond, plants and vegetable beds, and boxes for birds, bees, bats and bugs.

The remaining cash will go towards a small amphitheatre which has been devised by Savills' architectural design team.

Nigel Fisher, chairman of the Friends of Botley School group, said: "We have made fantastic progress in the nature garden.

"Now we are looking forward to putting in some new plants and seeing the garden really come to life in the spring - we hope with plenty of wildlife using their new homes."

Headteacher Mark Prowen added: "We are almost overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends at Savills.

"Their efforts will make such a difference to the children's time at school for years to come."

Several Savills employees also gave up their time to held build the vegetable beds and clear the nature garden, including Karen Mole, head of new homes and a former Botley Primary School pupil.

She said: "I am normally showing adults around our new homes, not putting up new homes for birds, so it was certainly something different for us to get involved in, but great fun.

"I was one of those who voted to support the school at the beginning of last year, but I didn't tell anyone then that I'd been taught there as a child.

"It was fun going back to my old school to do something so worthwhile for today's youngsters and I really hope they gain a lot from the new area."

For 2008, Savills has chosen to help Oxford's Helen and Douglas House, and is planning a host of fundraising activities.