Plans to mark a unique moment in British royal history are in full swing with the official launch of the Queen’s Green Canopy.
In 2022, The Queen becomes the first British Monarch to celebrate 70 years on the throne. The Green Canopy project will encourage schools and community groups across the UK to plant a tree for her Platinum Jubilee.
The Prince of Wales helped mark the official launch of the scheme on May 17th 2021 with a special message in which he said ”Planting a tree is a statement of hope and faith in the future.”
Prince Charles underlined the significance of the Jubilee, saying ”as we approach this most special year, I invite you all to join me to plant a tree for the Jubilee, in other words a Treebilee.”
The heir to the throne was also seen starting off the canopy by planting a Verdun Oak in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The ceremony took place in March, at the end of tree planting season, with The Queen watching as her son did the honours. Verdun Oak was chosen as it was first brought to the UK after the end of World War One when acorns from the site of the battle were used as memorials. The tree has flourished ever since.
People across the country are invited to take part in the creating the canopy by joining the scheme between October 2021 and March 2022, the traditional season for settling new trees. From June 2021, schools and community group s will be able to apply for three million free saplings from the Queen’s Green Canopy which will be distributed by the Woodland Trust. And everyone is invited to join an online representation of the canopy by submitting a photo of the tree they plant to the Queen’s Green Canopy interactive map.
Established and ancient woodlands and trees across the country will also be dedicated to The Queen to mark her special anniversary. The scheme will also see a new training programme for unemployed young people set up through London’s only specialist environmental college, Capel Manor.
The Queen’s Green Canopy is the start of celebrations which will culminate in June 2022 when the UK marks its first ever Platinum Jubilee. An extra Bank Holiday has been created and another moved so that the party can start on Thursday June 2nd and run until Sunday June 5th 2022. Further events will be announced over the coming months.
