ANNIVERSARY celebrations are underway at a Bournemouth primary school as it enters its 150th year.

Numerous events are planned at St Mark’s in Talbot Village throughout 2012, including a whole school photograph with pupils dressed in Victorian costume, open-air performances and the production of an anniversary book of recipes.

Each year group has already planted 150 daffodils and events got under way recently when two trees were planted at the primary school, one to commemorate the anniversary and the second to mark Bournemouth’s bicentenary.

Pupils also set themselves the target of sending 150 shoe boxes to needy children at Christmas but exceeded their aim and sent more than 200.

The school, concealed in woodland behind the busy Wallisdown Road, was built in 1862 under the instruction of Talbot sisters Georgina Charlotte and Mary Anne, to provide a basic education for the children of Wallisdown Heath.

Since then it has more than doubled in size and now houses 420 children from reception to Year 6.

The trees were planted by Anita Hazell, chair of governors, and Liz Bird, chair of the School and Parents Association.

They were blessed by the vicar of St Mark’s, Rev Rupert Higgins.