Meavy Garden Society joined forces with Meavy Church of England Primary School recently to plant a new tree in the school grounds to commemorate the Society’s Diamond Jubilee, 60 years after forming in 1962.

Vice Chair Brenda Burt said: ‘The tree we’ve planted is a John Downie Crab Apple Tree which was chosen by the society with the pupils and local wildlife in mind. The tree will flower in the spring months, bees will help with pollination in the summer and it will bear apples in the autumn, which can be enjoyed by birds throughout the winter months and used by the children to make crab apple jelly.’

Special representatives from each class in the school were selected to help plant the tree. It was also World Book Day; the school’s 88 children decided to wear animal-themed costumes to celebrate the day. The pupils were overseen and assisted by new headteacher Kate Gawadzyn, whose incumbency marks a new era for the school.

The Gardening Society is looking forward to the coming months where they have several events planned, the highlight of which will be their annual summer show, taking place this year in the second weekend of August. This event is unique in that it hosts no judges - instead the public vote for the winners in every class. There is also a children’s class for the event, which members of the society actively encourage children from the primary school to enter during their summer holidays.