There’s something quietly magical about a school library done well—and at Seend Primary School, that magic now comes with towering trees, hidden animals and a sense of adventure.
Pupils, staff and families have come together to celebrate the opening of the school’s newly transformed library, reimagined as a “Woodland Wonderland” designed to spark imagination and a love of reading.
Step inside and it’s less classroom, more enchanted forest. Walls are lined with hand-painted murals, cosy nooks invite children to settle down with a book, and there’s a deliberate calmness to the space—something staff say is key to helping pupils engage with reading.
The idea, they say, was simple: create somewhere children actually want to be.
That vision was brought to life by former teacher Natalie Johnson, who returned to the school to design and paint the artwork. For her, it was more than just another project.
“I hope the space inspires pupils to see reading as an adventure and to feel that this library belongs to them,” she said.
There’s a sense of ownership running through the whole project. Funding came not from a single source, but from a genuine community effort—support from the PTA and local church, alongside money raised by pupils themselves during a sponsored walk.
Assistant Headteacher Holly Chivers said the result speaks for itself.
“This library is more than just a place to read. It represents what can be achieved when a community comes together,” she said.
Headteacher Emma Hembury echoed that sentiment, describing the space as a reflection of the school’s ethos and the individuality of its pupils.
The timing of the official opening—held on World Book Day—felt fitting, with families invited in to share the moment and see first-hand what had been created.
In an age of screens and short attention spans, spaces like this matter more than ever. Not just for literacy, but for giving children somewhere to pause, imagine and get lost in a story.
At Seend, that journey now begins in the woods.
