Wartime evacuee Margaret Le Noury planting a tree with the help of Raymond Evison and Diane Phillips. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0883334)

WARTIME evacuees joined the Bailiff and St Peter’s residents on Saturday to plant a copse of 70 trees to commemorate their childhood experiences – and take part in a world record attempt in the process.

Next year will be the 70th anniversary of more than half the population fleeing to the UK ahead of Germany’s occupation of the island.

More than 100 people assembled for the St Peter’s Floral Group event, part of the BBC’s Tree O’clock, Breathing Places and National Tree Week. The record attempt involved thousands nationwide planting as many trees as possible between 11am and noon.

Ron Gallienne was just six when he had to leave the island with his mother and brother almost 70 years ago in June 1940.

‘It was a wonderful idea to do this today and it means a lot to us,’ he said. ‘I have brought along my granddaughter, Sophie, who will hopefully see the trees grow.’

Sophie, 9, said she planned to keep coming until the tree was full-size.

‘I had a good time here with my grandpa and I will keep coming back,’ she said.