Norwich youngsters help plant 75th anniversary trees at Hellesdon school

Youngsters have planted trees to help celebrate their school's 75th anniversary.

Today's (Friday) tree-planting event at Firside Junior School was the first in a number of events to mark the special milestone this year.

The Hellesdon school was first opened on March 22, 1937. Since then, it has undergone a number of changes and has seen its surroundings develop from farms, fields and hedges to the now busy and thriving community.

All of the school's pupils joined in with the tree-planting. With the help of staff, governors, members of the community and children from Hellesdon and Reepham high schools, they planted seven 15ft trees and 75 young tree seedlings - one for every year of the school's history.

Headteacher Simon Fisher said: 'It was a super event.'

The school was originally built for 11 to 14 year olds as the Hellesdon Central School. It later became a secondary modern school before it became a primary school for children aged five to 11 and the name Firside was chosen. The school later became a middle school and then in 2007, when local education was reorganised, it became Firside Junior.

The celebration events have been funded by the school, fundraising by the children and the Friends of the school.