Dorchester schoolchildren have become part of a global conservation effort, thanks to a special gift from a Dorset MP.

MP for West Dorset, Sir Oliver Letwin, presented children from Damers First School with three sapling trees to plant in the school’s garden.

Sir Oliver presented the school with a rowan, a hazel and a silver birch sapling as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC).

The QCC is a unique network of forest conservation initiatives which involves all 53 countries of the Commonwealth – of which Damers is now a part.

It aims to raise awareness within the Commonwealth of the value of indigenous forests to save them for future generations.

The QCC’s website states: “By creating a pan-Commonwealth network of forest conservation projects, the QCC will mark Her Majesty The Queen’s service to the Commonwealth while demonstrating the capacity of its 53 member countries to act together as one to ensure forest conservation.”

Headteacher at Damers Catherine Smith said that it was a privilege to play a part in such a worthwhile and valued project which will have an impact not just within our local environment but across the Commonwealth as a whole.

Sir Oliver rolled up his sleeves and helped year three children from Damers to plant the saplings in pots in the school’s kitchen garden.

The MP said: “By planting these three saplings at Damers First School we joined in with a global conservation effort organised through the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project.

“It was a delight to see the children enjoying the experience of planting the trees themselves, as well as starting to appreciate the vitally important ecological and aesthetic roles that trees play in our natural world.”