Every pupil at St Michael’s Middle School in Colehill has planted a tree – with more than 520 saplings dug into the ground. The green-fingered outing was to help mark the school’s 50th anniversary and to improve the local environment.

During Phase 1 of the planting the children were joined by parish councillors and were under the guidance of Dorset Grounds Maintenance Team led by Daryl Pearce.

The trees, a mix including oak, silver birch, beech and buckthorn were planted in the Triangle Wood opposite the school which many of the pupils walk through to get to their lessons.

Councillor Emma Urquhart said: “It was wonderful to see the energy of the young people at St Michael’s as they set about improving their local area and investing in the future of the planet at the same time.”

Parish chairman Emma Urquhart, headteacher Ron Jenkinson, and the youngest pupil at the school Lily Launder

Headteacher Ron Jenkinson said: “The younger generation understand better than most that more care is needed for our world. “They set about the task of planting with the sense of commitment that comes from the belief that they were doing something of lasting worth. “It was a joy to see them taking their parents around the wood the next morning showing family members where their tree was.”

St Michael’s is part of Wimborne Academy Trust whose chief executive Liz West said: “It’s great to see pupils out of school learning and doing things to improve the environment. “I hope when these children have grown up they will return to the wood and see what has become of the trees they planted.”