YOUNGSTERS now have their own place for thinking with the opening of a “reflection garden” in their school grounds.

The new space at Bolton-on-Swale primary school was officially opened and blessed by the Bishop of Ripon, the Right Reverend James Bell.

The reflection space was conceived by the school’s “eco team” – a group of pupils dedicated to improving the school grounds as part of their environmental topic.

The entrance to the garden features a fish mosaic, with each child putting a tile into the piece, as a symbol of the Christian ethos at the school.

The garden was part funded by the Henry Jenkins Memorial Society, a group which aims to support local causes.

Rob Coates, chairman of the society, said: “We host an event each year in memory of a gentleman called Henry Jenkins who is reputed to have lived to 169, and he’s buried in Bolton-on-Swale.”

He added: “I think having a reflection space is very important - things get very het up in school, as they do in life, and the garden provides somewhere to go and sit and be quiet and have time to think.”

Local vicar the Reverend Yvonne Callaghan, who is also a governor at the school, said: “The reflection garden is about being – being able to reflect and being able to think and listen to each other.

“The greenhouse in the garden is just part of teaching the children that they are part of creation, so that they continue to flourish in all they are meant to be.”