OKEHAMPTON Primary School has made it onto a shortlist for the Royal Forestry Society Excellence in Forestry Schools Award.

The award looks for inspirational projects that increase children or young people's understanding and appreciation of the environmental, social and economic potential of trees, woodlands and forests, and the link between trees and everyday wood products.

The school has been nominated for its promotion of the importance of woodlands and hedges in numerous projects, including the ongoing dormouse project.

There is a £1,000 first prize and a £500 second prize. Judges will be visiting all eight shortlisted schools in May.

RFS education officer Debbie Cotton said: 'What was most impressive this year was the depth of knowledge being covered with some schools going into quite detailed study of woodland management, being involved directly with woodland management plans, and of the species within the woodland, showing great care and concern for locally important threatened species.

'Many of the schools were also liaising widely and regularly with supporting organisations such as national parks, wildlife trusts, local specialists and their community which added real strength to their projects.'