CHILDREN with special learing needs displayed their gardening skills in preparation for World Environment Day.

Youngsters, aged between seven and nine, from Oak Tree Primary School, in Stockton, showed a visitor from the Environment Agency their work, in particular the living willow hut they have grown.

The school, in Newham Grange Avenue, already recycles paper, catalogues and telephone directories, and each class has a paper monitor. Pupils also collect rain water to pour on their plants, and grow wildflowers, as well as vegetables and plants.

Kathryn Cook, from the Environment Agency, visited the school on Wednesday to congratulate the students on their hard work.

She said: "It's great to get children involved in environmental projects so young. You can see they have really enjoyed watching the garden grow and being actively involved.

"If children this young can pledge to help the environment, there's really no excuse for the rest of us not to."

Teacher Alison Lumsdon said: "They love their wildlife garden and have got immense pleasure out of seeing the living willow hut literally come to life."

World Environment Day will be on Sunday, June 5, when people will be urged to make a pledge, such as turning off the tap when they brush their teeth.