Youngsters from St John’s Primary in Totnes held a planting ceremony for two of 6,500 Japanese cherry blossom trees gifted to the UK from Japan.

The trees are being planted in schools, royal parks and public spaces across the UK symbolising the long standing and strong cultural links between the two countries.

The project was launched by the then Prime Ministers Shinzo Abe and Theresa May in 2017.

The cherry trees, or Sakura in Japanese, were planted in the school grounds thanks to help from members of the Totnes Allotment Society.

Headteacher William Jaworski said: “The trees planted at Totnes St John’s reminds our pupils that they are part of a wider global community, with diverse cultures and with each passing year that they can grow and flourish together.

“The support and expertise of Totnes Allotment society who have been embedding growing within the school for the last year which has been brilliant.”

Parent Anna Thomson explained: “In Japan, the school year begins at the beginning of April during the cherry blossom season.

“There is a feeling of a fresh new start after the long winter.

“When we lived there, like all the other families, we took our ‘first day back at school’ photos under cherry trees and enjoyed picnic parties in the park under the blossoms, which were lit up at night.”

Yasumasa Nagamine, Japanese Ambassador to the UK said of the Sakura Cherry Tree Project: “We hope that people all over Britain will join with us in embracing this chance to deepen mutual understanding, thus helping to create an enduring legacy.

“Just like our relationship, these trees will grow stronger as they mature and, each year when they blossom, I hope they bring joy to people across the UK and remind them of the deep friendship between our two nations.”