Helston Community College students are getting to the core of diversity issues by creating their own apple orchard.

The year ten land-based studies group has planted 16 trees, all of which have Cornish connections.

Varieties include Helston’s very own Ben’s Red dessert apple; Colloggett Pippin, a cider apple; Cornish Aromatic, a late season dessert apple; and Cornish Pine, another dessert apple.

All the trees were sourced through and supplied by Duchy of Cornwall Nursery, and planted during National Tree Week, run by the Tree Council.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of National Tree Planting Year – at the time dubbed Plant a Tree in ’73.

The council has said more trees were needed, however, to counterbalance the digging out of old orchards, and the affects of ash dieback, chestnut leaf miner and other damaging pests and diseases.

Diversity within species will be key to keeping numbers up.

The Tree Council said it was “delighted” that Helston Community College had taken up the cause and was promoting diversity of tree species in the area.

Director general Pauline Buchanan Black said: “Thanks to the resources contributed by our donors and supporters, the Tree Council has been able to make this grant so that students at Helston Community College can get digging.”

Dr Pat McGovern, headteacher of Helston Community College, said: “This project, led by teacher Trevor Smith, has made a valuable contribution to changing attitudes and understanding about trees with the students that are involved. They will grow up to be comfortable with distinctions whilst valuing the difference, finding the common ground within diverse communities.”