SCHOOLCHILDREN did their bit for their town this week by completing the planting of a community orchard.

The children, aged eight and nine, came from Yarm’s three primary schools and planted the last of the trees for the town’s new community orchard on Snaith’s Field.

Many of the trees have been donated by individuals and the community, including from one man who planted a tree in memory of his mother.

Another Yarm resident donated damson trees so he could make damson wine and rhubarb has already been used by people to make crumbles.

Carole Jones, a retired teacher who lives by the field off Bentley Wynd, had the original idea to create the orchard.

She said about 18 children from Layfield, Yarm and Levendale, mixed compost and ash, donated by Yarm town councillor Alan Judge, and plant five apple and one pear tree. “They made the ‘magic’ mixture and we planted the trees and talked about how we could protect the trees from the rabbits. It was lovely and educational at the same time.

“The apples are a bit small this year, but we’re hoping for bigger things next year.”

Most of the trees, equipment and time have been donated for free by businesses and individuals from across the community, although some money, about £200, has come from the ward budgets of Yarm’s borough councillors.