YOUNGSTERS at Park Primary School have been busy planting poppy seeds, which will flower to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One.

Children at the Alloa primary were given a helping hand by pupils from Alloa Academy and provost Tina Murphy.

Provost Murphy said, “The activity of planting these seeds and watching the flowers bloom will give our children and young people a vivid and living reminder of the significant impact of WW1 both throughout Clackmannanshire and in the wider world.

“I hope that it will help them understand the sacrifices that were made on the battlefield and on the home front, and provoke questions and discussions in school to help them develop their knowledge.” The planting of the seeds is part of a programme which is in primary schools throughout Clackmannanshire, within the UK wide Royal British Legion Centenary Poppy Campaign.

To mark the anniversary of the start of WW1 in August, which resulted in over 37 million casualties, the campaign hopes to see the UK covered in thousands of Flanders poppies.

Robert Hunter, secretary of the Royal British Legion Scotland (RBLS) Clackmannanshire, said, “The RBLS was founded after the war to help our ex-servicemen return to a land allegedly fit for heroes to live in. In reality they would face unemployment, starvation and widespread misery in a country struggling to rehabilitate four million soldiers suffering from physical injury and trauma.

“The RBLS still strive to assist our serving and ex-service personnel in many ways including welfare problems, counselling and many more, so being a part of this event is a privilege and monumental to the members of the Royal British Legion.”