The first of the The Argus's 125th anniversary trees has been planted on a village green.

Sandra Carey-Boggans, 41, was joined by friends and family to help The Argus staff plant an oak tree on the grass opposite her house in The Green, Southwick.

The tree is one of 125 native trees supplied by Haskins Garden Centre in Roundstone Bypass, Angmering, as part of The Argus's 125th anniversary celebrations last year.

Readers were asked to nominate individuals, groups, schools and organisations who they felt deserved a tree for overcoming challenging times or making a difference in the community.

Schools, hospitals, teachers, residents' associations, activity groups and charities from across the county were nominated and their trees will be planted over the next few weeks.

Each of them will be able to choose which type of tree they would like to have planted in their honour.

Sandra's friend Michelle Court, 33, of Lodge Close, Portslade, nominated her because the breast cancer she had been battling against for a year had spread.

In August, Sandra, who is also a community youth worker and was a foster carer, was told the cancer was terminal.

Because it was so aggressive, her doctors at Worthing Hospital would only give her two months at a time to live.

Sandra, who has two sons Jacob, ten, and Lewis, eight, has since got married and is determined to live her life to the full.

She moved Christmas forward and has just returned from a family holiday to New Zealand to visit her sister.

She said: "Organising the tree-planting has been really exciting.

"I think it's a lovely idea and it's such a lovely thing for Michelle to have done.

"Behind the scenes, she's done so much for me and I'm really grateful to her.

"I chose an oak because it's so strong and solid. I'll be able to see it from my bedroom window.

"After I die, they're hoping to put a memorial bench under it so I'm hoping people will make donations for that rather than flowers at the funeral."

Sandra's sons and husband Tom Boggans, 49, returned home from school and work specially to see the tree being planted.

And to mark the occasion, Sandra and her friends wore pink T-shirts and cowboy hats - like they did at her wedding - in reference to Breast Cancer Awareness.

Michelle said: "It was lovely seeing Sandra so happy with her friends and family planting the tree and it will be a lasting memorial to a very special friend."

The 125 Trees For The Sussex Community followed a string of celebrations last year to mark the 125th anniversary of The Argus.

These included 125 Sussex Heroes, The Argus Family Race Day in July and 125 Things To Do With The Kids.

Read about Sandra's battle against cancer in her own in The Argus on Saturday, January 14