Historic trees planted to mark WWI tragedy

Pupils from an East London school planted historic trees and poppy seeds on April 1 to commemorate a World War I tragedy where 18 children died after a bombing raid destroyed the school in 1917.
Pupils from an East London school planted historic trees and poppy seeds on April 1 to commemorate a World War I tragedy where 18 children died after a bombing raid destroyed the school in 1917.
Children from Mayflower Primary School were joined by the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, Commander John Ludgate, Deputy Lieutenant for the borough and David Shreeve from the Conservation Foundation to plant a Black Poplar and unveil a plaque in Trinity Gardens, Poplar, where the Upper North Street School originally stood.
The Upper North Street School was hit by a German missile on June 13, 1917, during a lesson killing 18 pupils, the majority of whom were aged six and under.
Along with the Black Poplar which gave the borough of Poplar its name, a grove of ten elms were also planted donated by the Conservation Foundation.
Mayor Lutfur Rahman said “We are here today to commemorate history and to confirm the future – a green future we hope for our children. This is the centenary of World War I, a war that changed the world.
“As we look forward I hope future generations will benefit from our efforts to re-green the borough and visitors to Trinity Park will reflect on our history.”
At the event the Mayor launched a campaign with the Conservation Foundation to re-green the borough.
Schools will be invited to plant disease resistant elm trees, encouraging children to tend to the saplings and learn more about the importance of trees, carbon recycling and climate change.
The poppy seeds were donated by Stan Kay who came down to the launch and is on a mission to sow poppy fields around the world to mark the centenary of WWI.