Last Friday, Ormiston Rivers Academy's Environmental Group participated in the nationwide 'Queen's Green Canopy' project, as part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations this year.

Pupils joined students from local primary schools and other town representatives to plant trees on the green outside St. Mary's Church in Burnham-on-Crouch to commemorate the event.

The Academy intends to create a "sustainable place of quiet and reflection, to be enjoyed by local residents for years to come".

"We were delighted to be invited to participate in this event, bringing together members of our local community to commemorate this important milestone in our nation's history." Jo Williams, Principal of Ormiston Rivers Academy

Jo Williams, Principal of Ormiston Rivers Academy, said:

"We were delighted to be invited to participate in this event, bringing together members of our local community to commemorate this important milestone in our nation's history.

"Our students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are looking forward to seeing their combined creation grow and develop, and being enjoyed by all in years to come".

The trees planted for the copse were Hazel, Rowan and Crab-Apple. Ormiston Rivers Academy students were selected to plant Hazel trees, which can live for over 100 years and reach 12m tall.

This tree could live for more than 100 years (Photo: Ormiston Rivers Academy)

A group of students gave a speech, explaining that in ancient times eating the fruit of the Hazel tree was said to give people wisdom and inspiration.

Today, it is used in conservation. It is often coppiced - a pruning technique where the tree is cut to ground level, resulting in regeneration of new stems from the base. Hazel trees are also used to make fences and hurdles, as the young branches bend well without breaking.

The Academy's students, in particular, received praise and were thanked for their support of both younger students and older participants in helping them to plant their trees.

The tree could grow to be 12 metres tall (Photo: Ormiston Rivers Academy)

Celebrations to mark the Queen's 70th year on the throne are expected to last throughout the year.

Festivities are set to continue between 12 and 15 May at Windsor Castle, where more than 500 horses and 1,000 performers will create a "90-minute piece of spellbinding arena theatre".

You can find out more information here.