Children plant a tree and watch world class football to celebrate the Olympics

The trees are to form a ribbon between Much Wenlock and the Olympic Park. Pupils at Sydenham Primary School got to take part in the project, which pays tribute to the Much Wenlock Olympian Society, whose games in 1850 inspired the first modern Olympiad in 1896.

It was after a visit to Much Wenlock in 1890 that Pierre de Coubertin was convinced to organise the inaugural Olympic Games in Athens.

The trees being planted this year have been grown from acorns taken from an oak planted in 1890 when de Courbertin visited the town.

Ms Carla Matthews, associate headteacher at the school, said: “The children were absolutely delighted to be part of this history. It’s a really nice and different way to celebrate the Olympics.”

Meanwhile six lucky pupils were given the chance to watch world-class football between Senegal and Oman squads at the Olympic qualifier match that took place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry last week. The tickets were allocated to the school as part of the Get Set Olympic network.

And as if all that was not enough activity for the children, they have also been busy monitoring an incubator full of eggs after experts from the Living Eggs educational programme visited the school last week.

The first chicks were born last month and are being cared for by the pupils.