A NEW sensory garden designed to stimulate the senses of youngsters at Heathcoat Primary School is showing children and staff a glimpse of prehistoric plant life.

Each stage of the process of creating the garden — designing, researching, preparing the ground, planting and care — has involved pupils and teachers.

It has been overseen by Terry Watling, of Withleigh Nurseries, who provided the Tiverton primary with expert advice and some high quality and unusual plants to make the garden special.

Terry visited the school last month to bring plants for the evolutionary area of the garden, which is planted with varieties that have existed for thousands of years, such as rheums, gunneras, ginkgo biloba, ferns and unusual specimens like Psuedopanax.

Volunteers have been using their skills to help children build a raised walkway through the evolutionary area and staff and pupils are creating artwork which, when placed in the garden, will add further interest.

Judith Hopkins, deputy head teacher at the school, said: "The garden as a whole will develop and grow into a stunning resource that will attract insects and other wildlife and enable the children to experience a riot of colour, textures, sounds and smells.

"We very much hope our neighbours in Charlton Lodge and Age Concern will also enjoy visiting our wonderful garden."