It was a real picnic for kids at Ribby-with-Wrea Primary when they lent a helping hand at The villa, Wrea Green. Pupils showed they were a dab hand in the kitchen when they helped the hotel’s award-winning chef Nigel Smith design new menus for the summer season.

It was child’s play for these school children as they helped cook up a storm at The Villa, Wrea Green. Pupils from Ribby-with-Wrea Primary School have helped design the new summer menu for the country house hotel. The eight winners were chosen by award-winning chef patron Nigel Smith.

Earlier this month, The villa asked for the help of the children to create a fresh, new menu. The school welcomed the challenge, producing some inspiring food ideas. Nigel is hoping that the school’s designs will revitalise the children’s menu. He said: “The menus were superb. The children’s innovation and amount of thought was brilliant. It was great to see a consensus of healthy foods, particularly pastas and fruits.”

The Villa invited the winning students for a three course meal, sampling the new menu prepared by Nigel and his team of dedicated chefs. Sarah Robson, deputy head teacher at Ribby-with-Wrea, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity. The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience of eating at a real restaurant. Our menus to be recognised by a professional chef was a once in a lifetime opportunity and one we’d like to repeat next year.”

Aspects of the brilliantly designed, beautifully drawn and thoughtfully described menus will feature throughout the summer menu. The school will continue to design the children’s menus for each season.

The Villa is also working with the community this weekend, providing car parking in one of the surrounding fields for Wrea Green Field Day on Saturday. The charges will be £2 per car, with the funds raised to be donated to Trinity Hospice at Bispham.