Sakura Cherry Tree planted with ceremony!

Dartford Grammar School is honoured to have received the gift of a cherry blossom tree to commemorate the ongoing friendship between Japan and the United Kingdom. This Sakura  project was launched in the Autumn of 2017 during a meeting between Prime Ministers Shinzo Abe and Theresa May, and the tree we received is one of 6000 now planted throughout the UK.

On 25th January 2022, we hosted a small planting ceremony, on an admittedly chilly (but dry) afternoon, that was a  acknowledgement of the importance of this tree. Leader of Dartford Borough Council, Jeremy Kite, was among the guests who helped us plant the tree in a hole dug by the school's gardening club earlier in the day. Two Year 6 students from Sutton at Hone Primary School spoke alongside our own students to the assembled crowd, and Wentworth Primary School was also represented as another of the local schools that form part of our outreach network. We are also indebted to Mr and Mrs Kelly who attended and have been long supporters of our Japanese teaching and relationships. 

After the ceremony we adjourned for green tea and Japanese snacks in the much cosier atmosphere of the dining hall.

Many thanks to all who came along and helped to make the planting of this tree into a special occasion!