THE mayor went back to school this week to help pupils plant a tree to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Cllr Ron Clover was at Great Dunmow Primary School on Tuesday to plant an apple tree with two students from every class from Foundation to Year 6.

Joanne Jolliffe, head of environmental studies, said: “We chose to plant an apple tree because it links in with the vegetable patches and fruit gardens the children planted in March.”

The school invited parents and students to a day of building flower beds before each year group planted garlic, onions, peas, broad beans, strawberries and beetroot. All the produce will be used in cooking lessons.

“It is also RHS gardening week so each class is doing a gardening project from planting flowers to creating natural sculptures like Andy Goldsworthy.”