Pupils at a Moray school have planted an apple tree to mark their building’s 40th anniversary.
Speyside High School is celebrating the landmark this year, with a variety of drives taking place to reflect on its four decades in Aberlour.
Moray MSP, Richard Lochhead, was keen to help honour the occasion and donated the young tree to be planted near the entrance of the secondary.
He brought it back to Moray with him after picking it up in Edinburgh at the Scottish Parliament’s annual apple day, which is organised to celebrate the country’s orchards.
Mr Lochhead was asked to find a meaningful spot in his constituency for the plant.
The SNP politician yesterday gathered with a group of Speyside pupils to dig out a hole for the tree and bed it down.
He said: “This year is a special year for Speyside High School, this seemed like a fun way to mark its anniversary.
“The tree will be part of the school for many years to come.”
The pupils and Mr Lochhead took a break during the digging to freeze for their own “mannequin” video – a craze which involves people posing still while a moving camera pans around them.
The planting was overseen by a group of children who have been working to enhance the school’s natural environment.
The youngsters have been taking part in a national initiative aimed at increasing plummeting bee numbers across the UK by growing more trees and plants.
Head teacher, Patricia Goodbrand, said: “The children want to encourage bees into the school grounds, by improving the environment around the building, and they were delighted with Mr Lochhead’s donation.”
The Moray MSP added: “It was really good fun to join the kids involved in the project, who have been working really hard to learn about pollinators.
“It’s great to see young people so interested and enthusiastic about nature and the environment.”
The school is now looking into arranging a plaque to be installed beside the tree to explain its significance.
