Rustington children sow seeds for Olympic celebrations

Green-fingered youngsters from Summerlea Primary School planted 14 saplings, representing each class in the school, as part of their Olympic legacy, on Thursday.

The ceremony was led by enthusiastic year-five pupil Tamzyn Swann, who drafted the idea to the school’s student council, last month.

The 10-year-old felt that it would be a special way to herald the passing of this year’s highly anticipated Olympic Games.

The planting was supported by the school’s dedicated band of fund-raising volunteers from the Friends of Summerlea School (FOSS) and the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

Under the expert advice of staff from the Arundel Arboretum, the school’s premises manager Stephen Fryer, alongside FOSS treasurer Simon Allchin, took to the grounds – spades in hand – to plant the 14 different saplings.

Maple, willow and chestnut saplings were a few of those planted during the day.

The morning’s festivities were wrapped up by a poem, specially created by pupils from the school’s redwood class for the occasion.

School spokeswoman Katrina Wright said: “It is great timing in light of 2012 being a very special year when the country is celebrating the Queen’s diamond jubilee and hosting of the Olympic games. Planting the trees in 2012 marks these very special occasions.”