A NEW green area called Badger Wood has been planted to mark the retirement of Andrea Badger, a teacher at Houghton School. Mrs Badger worked at the school for 15 years, teaching some 450 children in her time there. To mark her dedication, families at th

A NEW green area called Badger Wood has been planted to mark the retirement of Andrea Badger, a teacher at Houghton School.

Mrs Badger worked at the school for 15 years, teaching some 450 children in her time there.

To mark her dedication, families at the school have sponsored trees for the wood, which they then helped plant on Saturday.

The sponsorship money will maintain the woodland and develop it. Classes will adopt the trees - keeping a photographic record of their growth and seeing the site develop as a habitat for insects and birds.

Headteacher, Georgina Young said: "Andrea was responsible for developing the school environment in her first years at Houghton School and worked with parents and children to create our pond area and planted a few trees on the school field about 12 years ago.

"We wanted to mark her retirement by continuing the project that she began. We have created Badger Wood as a place for children to learn and play. The woodland will have a mixture of native trees and shrubs, providing much needed shady areas for the children to explore, hide and play in, together with natural log seating for quiet, cosy areas.

"We wanted to give our children and their families an opportunity to contribute to this project and have been staggered by the response. About 40 families have sponsored trees in Badger Wood. They helped to plant the trees and they will have a page in our Badger Wood book."

Mrs Badger said: "I have loved working with the children and I am very touched by the wood being in my name. I look forward to seeing it grow.