GREEN-FINGERED pupils of the town's primary school have been busy helping out at Okehampton Community Garden by planting trees for a new orchard.

Waitrose and the primary school provided funding for 35 trees to go in the garden's new orchard .

Eight children from Key Stage 2 classes planted a mixture of apple, pear, plum and cherry trees as well as three Devon Whitebeam trees to create a diverse and healthy orchard.

Despite the cold weather, the youngsters learned how to plant and stake the trees.

Partners from Waitrose also helped to create the orchard, and all the helpers enjoyed hot chocolate and home-made cakes as a thank you for their efforts.

Fran Rickwood, who works at Okehampton Primary and is a member of the community garden steering group, said: 'It was very rewarding to look back at the newly formed orchard at the end of the day and know that we had helped to create a lasting natural legacy for Okehampton.'

The garden on Fatherford Road was given the go-ahead in January 2012 by Okehampton United Charity, following the hard work of the steering group to get the project off the ground.

The garden is slowly taking shape, with storage sheds built, sensory gardens and herb gardens laid out, and work continuing to bring the project closer to completion. It will provide a green space for the community to grow fruit and vegetables, and help care for plants and flowers.

If you are interested in becoming a gardener or friend of the project, please e-mail steering group member Fran Rickwood on [email protected]">[email protected]