MARY Tavy and Brentor Primary School has been presented with a copy of a book which was created in response to Oxford English Dictionary removing a host of native animal, bird and plant names from their children’s edition.

Words such as acorn, adder, conker and bluebell have been removed from the publication because of ‘the falling frequency with which those words are used’ according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

The Lost Words is a large format, hardback book of acrostic poems with accompanying illustrations created by the author Robert Macfarlane and illustrator Jackie Morris.

A series of crowdfunded campaigns have sprung up around Britain to provide a copy to as many primary schools as possible, county by county.

A campaign for Devon schools was launched in late 2018.

Many schools throughout the country have found the book to be a brilliant resource for literacy, language and art as well as engaging children with the natural world.

Various types of support for ‘The Lost Words in Devon’ campaign were pledged by businesses, local authorities and groups including Dartmoor National Park Authority and the Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA) who donated £500, representing 52 books. Over half the funds came from individuals.

Babcock and Plymouth Schools Library Service are distributing most of the books but the DPA has offered to hand deliver books to the 31 primary schools on, or bordering, Dartmoor National Park.