YOUNGSTERS from Damers First School in Dorchester have been carrying on what Prince Charles started.

A group of 15 children helped plant trees along Bridport Road just outside Poundbury that will form part of a new avenue.

The Prince of Wales started the avenue, which will boast 100 trees when finished, on his last official visit to Poundbury last November when he planted the first tree to commemorate the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Secretary at Damers School Debbie Gould said the children involved in the planting were from all classes and year groups and were being rewarded after obtaining ‘golden tickets’ for good behaviour or good work at school.

Damers School has strong links to the Duchy of Cornwall development at Poundbury as it will eventually be moved to the school proposed as part of the scheme.

Mrs Gould said: “We were really thrilled to be asked to do this, it’s a great initiative. We are very involved in Poundbury and everything going on as hopefully our new school will be up there.

“It’s also really nice because when the children drive past they can say ‘that’s my tree’.”

Arboricultural consultant for the Duchy of Cornwall Derek Brinsley said: “It’s a big thing for the Duchy of Cornwall to get a lot of community involvement, especially with local children, and try and get them interested in trees.

“They are doing a great job for us and they get a lot out of it.”

The children were joined by Mayor of Dorchester Tess James.

She said: “The children have been brilliant and it’s just lovely to see that they are leaving this living legacy for the town.

“I hope they will come back and see the trees when they are older.”

Children from the Prince of Wales School will also be involved in planting trees in the avenue on the south side of the road at a later date after rain earlier in the week forced a tree planting earlier in the week to be cancelled.