A ROYAL representative braved the cold to join pupils in their enviable forest school.

The High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Amanda Ponsonby, visited Rose Hill Primary School to watch an outdoor learning session.

Rose Hill has the largest grounds of any state primary in Oxford and its forest school encourages teaching outside of the classroom.

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Also invited were Rodney Portman, from the Berkeley Reafforestation Trust, and Neil Nicholson from Nicholson's Nurseries, which donated the money that allowed the primary to create the Forest School in 2016.

The event was organised by Sarah Lawfull from Where The Fruit Is, which trains Forest School leaders.

Oxford Mail:

Amanda Ponsonby Picture: Richard Tilley

Rose Hill headteacher Sue Vermes said: "For all these visitors the afternoon was enjoyable and interesting. They are all huge advocates for children being outside and connecting with the natural world.

"They were struck with the children's enjoyment and the depth of their thinking, as well as how confident they were in the 'forest'."

Rose Hill recently underwent a £1.3m refurbishment and is part of the River Learning Trust, an Oxford-based multi-academy trust.