Tree-mendous Inverness visit for German pupils
The 1000th pupil to visit the Highland capital from a German school has planted a new tree at the Inverness Botanic Gardens.
Students from the Marie Therese Gymnasium in Augsburg have been visiting this week as part of a town twinning programme.
Twelve-year-old Neele Walter planted a Ginkgo tree, before her classmates performed a rendition of Peter, Paul and Mary’s 1962 song The Lemon Tree to mark the occasion.
The lyrics of the song were changed to include Inverness thanks to teacher Maria Kapfer, while her daughter Anna played guitar as the class sang along.
Teacher Udo Legner said: “I started the programme 24 years ago with a colleague and we have taken 40 to 45 pupils over to Inverness every year since it began.
“We did the maths and realised that the 1000th pupil to visit Inverness was in this group so we needed to celebrate the milestone.”
The group of students who are over on a coach trip have been treated to a range of events during their time here. Since arriving in Scotland last Friday, the students have seen many traditions including the Braemar Highland Games where they saw the Queen.
Christina Cameron, chairwoman for the Inverness Town-Twinning Committee, said: “The pupils also got to experience the Kirking of the Council last Sunday and they were welcomed by the Inverness Royal Academy, where they had a ceilidh.”
Mr Legner added: “Only once during the 24 years has an Inverness school come over to Augsburg to visit so we are hoping that in the future another school will come and visit us.
“It’s a great community idea for students from Scotland and Germany. We are always welcomed in a lovely manner and would like to return the hospitality.”
