BRITAIN'S first school urban play area has opened - in Glasgow's South Side. Teachers, pupils and parents from Merrylee Primary in Cathcart raised £76,000 to build the outdoor adventure playground.

The Urban Jungle is created from wood, stone and vegetation, in keeping with the eco-friendly ethos of the school. It features a rope bridge and cargo net, grassy hills, flower gardens and has an orchard.

It was modelled on similar school play zones in Switzerland and Germany and took nearly two years to design, fundraise and build.

But pupils say the all-natural adventure playground was worth the wait.

Head teacher Liz Mahindru could not be more proud of the school's achievement.

She said: "It is fantastic. You see a real difference in the children when they are out playing in the Urban Jungle.

"When all they had was concrete they would go outside at break time and just stand. Now they run around and invent games and it is wonderful to see them develop their imaginations, as well as their fitness and understanding of nature."

Ms Mahindru had the idea for the Urban Jungle after completing a course with the Forestry Commission.

After getting the pupils and parents to back her plan, she looked for support from Glasgow City Council, which part-funded the project.

The Forestry Commission paid £30,000 while determined parents and pupils drummed up the rest of the cash.

Felicity Steers, whose son Rowan is in primary three, helped design the garden.

She said: "I was pregnant when I was approached to help and thought it would be a project that would take a few weeks to complete while I was on maternity leave.

"We are now two years down the line and I am pregnant again.

"With my work I do this sort of thing all the time, but it was very different to do while I had a personal investment. I feel I have left a legacy at the school for future children."

Merrylee is the city's most environmentally friendly school, with a wind turbine in the playground generating 12% of the school's electricity.

The building is made mostly from wood, insulated with newspapers and uses old telegraph poles as support beams.

Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow City Council, helped open the Urban Jungle.

He said: "The eco-friendly Merrylee Primary has been a huge success.

"The children, staff and parents are keen to share all they have learned about conservation since moving into their new school at the beginning of this year.

"Pupils will be able to watch the trees, plants and grass grow along with them as they progress through school while they learn and play in a safe, natural environment.

"I hope they will also learn the very important lesson of protecting their environment and conserving energy so future generations will also be able to enjoy their habitat." Head teacher Liz Mahindru says the project helps pupils Grace Ingles, Maja Cameron and Eve Uncles, all 5, try their hand at tree rubbing Deven Campbell, 9, left, and Lisa Murphy, 10, enjoy some rope tricks on the bridge, watched by Chloe McAuley, 12, Lauren Kelly, 10, and Kirsty Campbell, 11