GROW, SENSE, PLAY

Although Sherborne Town Council has been involved in tree planting for some time, since the launch of The Queen’s Green Canopy and the Platinum Jubilee in 2022 we have seen a rise in the number being planted, not only in our town but across the country, which is a good thing for future generations and the planet.

When it was decided that the Sherborne Beacon would be lit at the start of the Jubilee celebrations, the Pageant Master, who was part of the organising of all the beacons being lit across the country, requested that those lighting them also try to plant some trees, specifically seven of them in a circle, with each tree representing a decade in the Queen’s seventy-year reign and to assist with the sustainability of our planet.

After a conversation with a Sherborne Area School Trust (SAST) pupil, who asked if the council could plant trees at her school, we decided the seven trees should be planted at the four Sherborne SAST schools – Sherborne Primary, Sherborne Abbey, Harbour Vale and The Gryphon and three of the nearby village primary schools which included Thornford, Yetminster and Bradford Abbas, thereby making a figurative circle of trees in and around the town.

With the help of the town council’s grounds maintenance team and EuCan’s Adam Gale, the trees have now all been planted at each school, with the pupils themselves involved in digging the holes and planting.

The Mayor of Sherborne, Cllr Juliet Pentolfe came along to the tree planting and spoke to the young people, headteachers and staff about what each tree represented. She said, ‘It was lovely to see all the children being so enthusiastic and getting stuck in with the digging and planting of the trees and learning how in years to come they could come back to their old school and see how much they have grown.’

His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell came along to the tree planting at the two Sherborne primary schools. He spoke to the youngsters about his role as the monarch’s representative in Dorset and how The Queen’s Green Canopy has created a living legacy and serves as a lasting tribute to Her Majesty’s extraordinary service to her country and her people.

Each school has also been given a time capsule for the pupils to bury with items inside that when dug up in years to come will give an idea to those that open them of what life was like the year of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

SAST Education Director, Steve Smith, said ‘We are delighted to partner with the town council and provide homes to these beautiful trees which will stand as a reminder of the Queen and her historic reign. Our children are at the heart of the Sherborne community and this seems a fitting way to remember the Jubilee events which we all celebrated, and Her Majesty the Queen. Thank you to the town council for making this possible.’

In Pageant Gardens two trees were planted at the end of March – one to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the other in honour of our new monarch, King Charles III.

The tree for The Queen, a golden beech, was sponsored by the Sherborne & District Gardeners Association. Peter Neal, Chairman and John Pike, Treasurer of the association were amongst those who came along to the planting of the tree in Pageant Gardens.

They said, ‘We planted a cherry tree not too far from here for our Gardeners Association’s Golden Jubilee in 1992 and thought that donating a tree to have planted in Pageant Gardens for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee would be a lovely way to celebrate her reign.’ The tree planted for King Charles III was a purple beech following a request from a resident of the town. Each will have a small plaque installed next to them shortly.

Along with the recent tree planting, Sherborne Town Council has been involved in two additional outdoor space projects. After a consultation in the local area, it was decided that the tired-looking and under-used children’s play area at Granville Way would be redeveloped into a sensory garden, an open and reflective space for everyone to enjoy.

The aim of the sensory garden is to maximise the impact on the five senses: sight, scent, sound, touch and taste. They can have many uses from educational spaces to teach young people how to connect with nature, to spaces for rest and recuperation. The stimulation provided by a sensory garden can be beneficial to people with mental ill health or those with cognitive impairment. We look forward to the chosen plants growing and filling the space with scent and colour. A suitable sculpture or interactive display will be added shortly to complete the space.

Just a short walk from the sensory garden is the newly renovated Lambsfield Children’s Play Area. The play equipment has been upgraded in this space, along with a newly laid resin-bonded floor, replacement fence and tidied-up surrounding shrub borders.

We hope the trees, sensory garden and play area will be enjoyed by Sherborne residents and visitors over the coming years.

Sherborne Town Council has also recently upgraded the remaining paths at the Quarr Nature Reserve making it more accessible and easier for everyone to get around this site.