Viscount Newport opens new classroom facility at Chetwynd Deer Park
A new £145,000 wooden classroom at a deer park has been officially opened by a Shropshire aristocrat.
Viscount Newport unveiled a plaque at the opening ceremony of the classroom, known as The Lodge, which has been built within the grounds of Chetwynd Deer Park in Newport.
The 33-year-old, whose family seat is Weston Park in Shropshire, also joined invited guests on a tractor-led tour of the 200-acre deer park.
The stunning park is a conservation area which plays host to the Newport Show each summer.
Viscount Newport said: "The Lodge has been built to a very high standard and is sympathetic to the surroundings.
"It will allow more local schoolchildren and organisations an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the park, a wonderful local asset."
The Lodge is being offered as a resource to schools and organisations looking to carry out study projects at the deer park.
It includes a main hall, cloakroom and a kitchen, and was funded by Newport and District Agricultural Society, with £75,000 coming from Natural England.
Society spokesman Robert Watson Jones said many local schoolchildren had used the facility for outdoor studies since its doors opened in January.
He said: "We have already booked in 79 educational visits, mostly teacher and adult-led.
"We are delighted because it fits in with one of the society's remit to provide educational opportunities connected with agriculture, the countryside and conservation.
"We see it being a very useful resource for local schools which can use it for teacher-led studies but it is also open to adult learning and community groups as well as the nearby Harper Adams University.
"All can enjoy it free of charge for educational purposes and as a base to explore the park, which is a beautiful conservation area with endless educational opportunities."
Mr Watson Jones added: "Thousands visit the park each year to enjoy the Newport Show but The Lodge will give controlled access to local learners of all ages all year round, introducing them to a wonderful natural asset on their doorstep."
Anyone interested in booking The Lodge should call 01952 810814.
