Spring has officially arrived, and pupils are already taking advantage of the sunshine it has delivered.

Youngsters at Drapers’ Brookside infant and junior schools got to work in the grounds for their second annual gardening week, encouraging them to explore the environment around them, learning about wildlife as they go.

The week culminated in a ‘grandparent gardening day’ on Thursday, which saw grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts descend on the schools, in Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill.

More than 120 trees were planted, and the keen volunteers also renewed whips which had died, restocked hanging bags surrounding the gazebo and planted violas and pansies in fence pots.

Donations of flower and vegetable seeds were given by parents and local businesses, which the pupils enjoyed planting.

Nursery teacher Karen Rose, who organised the event, said: “It was an excellent day’s work by some fantastic, enthusiastic, hardworking people, who I cannot thank enough – and they all want to come back to do more!

“The children and their grandparents, parents, uncles and aunties get so much out of this day, I wish we could have a day like this every week!

“It is a wonderful, safe environment that is teeming with wildlife that children and their families can find out more about and enjoy together.”