FOREST Lodge Garden Centre, on the A325 at Holt Pound midway between Farnham and Bordon, has chosen to support the children and young people of Treloar School in Alton this Christmas by donating all of the money raised from its annual Christmas display to the charity.

The money raised will go toward building a new playground for the students in the primary school. The playground will have a wheelchair-friendly track, an accessible roundabout, a nest swing, and will also provide stimulating sensory experiences and learning areas.

Children with disabilities often are not able to spend time outside because of the lack of access, so a new playground will provide them with more freedom and independence and, like any other young child, a place where they can have lots of fun.

Forest Lodge has been supporting charities with its Christmas collection for more than 30 years and it is a perennial hit with young and old alike. The display is located at the entrance of the garden centre and this year features Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends chuffing round, an upside down Santa, a big polar bear, and a sparkling Christmas tree.

A Treloar spokesman said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Forest Lodge Garden Centre for this support and hope that the display and their festive sales are a big hit.”