Schoolchildren have been doing their bit to try to safeguard the future of Britain's rarest native tree - one made famous by John Constable.

The black poplar, which has appeared in many of Constables paintings as it is traditionally found in river valleys, at the last count was down to its last 8,000 nationwide.

Now Essex County Council is doing what it can to ensure the future of the tree by planting a number of saplings across the county and one of those planting sessions took place at Cudmore Grove Country Park, East Mersea.

Children from Mersea Island School helped Dougal Urquhart, one of the county council's rangers, plant some of the trees. He said: "We in the country park are doing our bit to plant a handful.

"There is a little borough council nursery by Remembrance Avenue with about 1,000, all from genuine black poplars trees in Suffolk and Essex, and farmers are being encouraged to plant them along riverbanks."

The saplings are available for anyone interested at no charge through Matt Hullis at Braintree District Council on 01376 552525.

Published Friday, March 15, 2002