Bracknell

An orchard will be planted at Bracknell Sandy Lane Primary School to celebrate its golden jubilee.

The school will be welcoming the Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest, Cllr Clifton Thompson, the Council’s shire horses Bracken and Bramble and other special guests to help the children plant the 20 trees which will make up the orchard.

The work has been funded by grants from the Tree Council, 3M and Fujitsu in partnership with Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s landscape services, Barcham Trees and the Brogdale Horticultural Trust. Volunteers from 3M and Fujitsu will be helping on the day, Brogdale advised and supplied the apple varieties to be planted and Barcham Trees donated two ornamental trees to the school to mark their golden anniversary celebration.

The Council’s landscape services team have helped the school pick a selection of trees, which will be planted by each of the school's year groups. Six will be apple trees some of which will be golden fruit and 14 will be ornamental trees.

The work has been timed to coincide with National Tree Week - which marks the start of tree-planting season - and Sandy Lane’s anniversary year. The school was originally opened as separate infant and junior schools in 1956 before they merged to form the primary school.

Bracknell Headteacher Liz Norris said: "We hope the children will take care of the trees and watch them grow and develop.

"The orchard is set to be a wonderful area to be enjoyed by Sandy Lane pupils for generations to come.”

Cllr Thompson said: "Planting an orchard is a wonderful way to celebrate half a century of learning in Sandy Lane.

"I hope the trees will grow strong and be a popular feature at the school for the next fifty years and provide a good supply of apples.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council