FOREST folk young and old jumped at the chance to take a stroll around the lovely grounds of Lydney Park Estate on Saturday in a sponsored Walkathon to raise cash towards a new minibus for the Heart of the Forest School.

The event, organised by children's charity Pied Piper on behalf of the school, went "very, very well," said head teacher Melissa Bradbury.

"It wasn't raining this year so we were also very lucky," she said. "That meant it wasn't so muddy – and the rhododendrons were out, and with bluebells in the woods the grounds were stunning so the walk was lovely."

The school needs wheelchair accessible buses for a fifth of its pupils, and it only has two buses with this facility out of a fleet of four. One of them is now more than ready to be upgraded, says the school, which hopes the event has helped a lot towards a new vehicle coasting around £30,000.

All of the classes have access to a minibus each week to make visits into the wider community and as well Key Stage 4 and FE students also attend Work Experience placements, all of which requires reliable transport.