A NATURE park, a hedgehog crossing and an eco-club are among the suggestions today being considered after schoolchildren had their say on how to improve their town.

A NATURE park, a hedgehog crossing and an eco-club are among the suggestions today being considered after schoolchildren had their say on how to improve their town.

Primary school pupils in Kesgrave have been playing their part in designing the next town plan putting forward their ideas.

June Klaschka, a member of the Kesgrave town plan steering group, said she visited Heath Primary, Cedarwood Primary and Gorseland Primary to explain what a town plan is and to hear what the town's youngsters had to say.

She said: “We wish to thank all the pupils for taking the time to think about the Kesgrave Town Plan.

“Our primary school pupils have demonstrated their ability to recognise not only the fact that they would, for example, like more swings and slides but also that they are conscious of the more 'adult' problems such as dog fouling, speeding traffic and litter and most importantly the environment.”

Each school were given a large cartoon tree with no leaves on it and some colourful leaves on which pupils were asked to write their ideas, each child then placed their 'ideas leaves' on to their school's 'ideas tree'.

The steering group, who have collated the results, said: “The pupils at Heath Primary have told us that they like the cycle paths in Kesgrave, the parks and open spaces and the presence of the police around the area.

“Amongst the things that the pupils dislike about Kesgrave are too many new houses, too many trees being cut down, too much litter and finally too much dog mess on the paths.”

The ideas from Heath Primary pupils include more woods, trees and flowers, more swings, slides and play areas, a swimming pool, a skate park and a nature park with a pond.

And at Cedarwood Primary children suggested an eco-club, an internet caf�, a water fountain, more dog bins and pedestrian crossings.

The steering group added: “The pupils of Cedarwood have demonstrated that despite their age they have concerns for the environment and their surroundings.”

Schoolchildren at Gorseland Primary highlighted the on-going problems with potholes in Grange Lane, urging the council to fill them in.

They came up with ideas for a hedgehog crossing, a rugby club and a boating pond for radio controlled boats.