The Paddocks Pre-School in Heckington successfully made a bid for £13,000 from Children Links organisation towards the redevelopment of the outdoor area which had previously been mainly grass with slides and climbing frames on it.

To make it more useful in all weathers, owner Sharon Alleary applied for the Play Space grant enabling her to lay further paving and all-weather safety surfacing.

Mrs Alleary was thrilled with the event and said: "The whole outdoor area is now laid out so you can have free flow play from inside to outside."

The money paid to have an open barn structure built to work as an outdoor classroom where children can stay under cover rain or shine for learning or picnics. A sturdy wooden tractor and jeep have also been installed as well as decking and a vegetable patch where youngsters can watch their seeds grow.

Continuing with the environmental theme there is a rainwater storage tank and two pet guinea pigs.