DRAMA tutors, storytellers and sculptors are among the creative individuals involved in a unique project funded by Herefordshire Council.

The project employs local people from creative industries to work in partnership with primary schools, helping to bring the school curriculum to life and encourage children to develop new ways of thinking.

At Walford Primary School, creativity is being employed to design a unique garden, with the help of Jim Morris-Ridout, from Copper Beech Garden Design Ltd, to include an amphitheatre, shaded classroom, vegetable garden and a decked walkway. The garden project will begin after Easter and take around eight weeks to complete.

Professional storyteller Lenny Alsop was employed to form a partnership with pupils at Our Lady's School to try to engage reluctant learners through storytelling.

"The children responded brilliantly to Lenny," said Our Lady's teacher, Trisha Costorz.

"They had great fun developing storytelling techniques of their own and the project seemed to have a positive influence on their behaviour and listening skills."

Our Lady's School was one of the first five schools that have already taken part in the project and Walford is one of the next five currently involved in the scheme.