Tree planting to mark Queen's jubilee

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An oak tree has been planted in Ashcombe Park, Weston-super-Mare by North Somerset Council as part of a national initiative to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

This year marks 70 years since HM The Queen came to the throne. As part of the celebrations, HRH The Prince of Wales has devised a project called The Queen’s Green Canopy, inviting organisations and individuals across the country to "plant a tree for the jubilee".

North Somerset Council Chairman Cllr Richard Westwood helped plant the English oak from Chew Valley Nurseries and unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

He said: "The Queen has been an inspiration to all of us over the years and I am very pleased to be able to plant this tree in North Somerset on her behalf."

The tree has been planted just yards away from an oak commemorating the Coronation of King Edward VII which was planted in 1902, the year Ashcombe Park opened.

Cllr Westwood, accompanied by his wife Linda, was joined at the planting by Council Leader Cllr Don Davies, executive member for neighbourhoods and community services Cllr Mike Solomon, local ward councillors, officers from the council's natural environment team and employees of contractors Glendale.

The council is encouraging others to plant trees to celebrate the Queen's jubilee.

Last year the council successfully applied to the government's Local Authority Treescapes Fund for funding to plant 3,000 smaller trees and 150 larger ones in local communities across the area. It has sought the help of town and parish councils with planting and looking after the trees and has offered each council at least one standard tree which could be used for The Queen’s Green Canopy scheme. 

"The Green Canopy initiative will not only leave a legacy in memory of the Queen’s long reign for generations to come, but will also have a positive impact on the environment and help to counter the damaging effects of climate change," said Cllr Solomon.

To find out more about the project and how to get involved visit www.queensgreencanopy.org.