Hemington Primary School has received a gift of ten fruit trees from The Tree Council as part of their Orchards for Schools initiative.

It was all hands ready with spades for the grand planting ceremony this month. Every child in the school and pre-school helped to plant the trees which will not only bear fruit for them to pick in the future, but will also provide shade in the summers to come.

An additional thirty bush trees were also provided to be planted in the school’s conservation area, enhancing every child’s forest school provision.

Hemington School Headteacher, Naomi de Chastelain, said: “We are so grateful for the children to be able to connect with nature in this way. After a difficult year with the Covid-19 pandemic this is just the kind of outdoor opportunity our children need to support their wellbeing.

“We are very fortunate to have beautiful grounds here at Hemington School and are keen to make use of them as much as we can. In the future the children will be able to benefit from the fruits of their labour – both eating the produce and playing in the shade on our field.”

The school would also like to express their thanks to parent, Will Reynolds, for making the charity application and helping to plant the trees, and Richard from Combe Garden Maintenance for his help and advice.