by HRH The Duke Of Kent, Patron of The Tree Council
The changes that this nation has seen during the sixty years since Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II succeeded to the throne have been significant, and yet it is only in retrospect that they can be truly understood and their impact assessed. Of course, the life of a tree can be so much longer and trees planted from 2012 to 2013 may be expected to stand as testament to the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee for generations to come.
It is with this in mind that The Tree Council decided to initiate a Golden Jubilee celebration project that would see significant trees planted in sixty communities right across Great Britain. In order to mark the huge advances in society, in technology and in our understanding of our country and its history, these tree plantings have served as the culmination of a range of activities designed to give children a greater awareness of what life was like here when Her Majesty first came to the throne.
A generation of people who were young at that time have shared memories of what the Coronation meant to them and how they lived, schooled, worked and spent their leisure hours. Many stories have been passed on and experiences relived for a new audience of children. The Jubilee Diamond Trees captured in these pages will remain as a reminder to these children of how nothing stands still except, perhaps, the tree that sees all and yet, can not repeat those stories. It will be our young who ensure that our shared history is not forgotten and that these special trees, whose stories are told in this book, are cared for so that they survive to be part of future narratives.
Introduction
The Tree Council’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration Project
This book describes the 60 educational tree planting projects that were inspired by the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and carried out by volunteers in communities across the UK. Many stories are embodied by trees and these special examples will add to the collection. Because diamonds form from carbon, some of which will be from trees that grew billions of years ago and were buried deep in the earth’s mantle, the trees at the heart of the project assumed a new significance as diamonds in the raw, planted with hope for the future of the monarchy and country as well as respect for the past sixty years and all that has happened since.
Marking the Jubilee with a tree in a significant location was a starting point for a story that will be written in the coming years but also, brought together people from across the generations to pass on memories and reflect on the changes that have taken place since 1952, the events that have shaped our country and the uniting role that Her Majesty has played. Working with a generation of local children who might expect to see their tree mature in 60 years’ time, our Jubilee Diamond Trees started the narrative and we turned to our volunteers, Tree Wardens, schools and communities, to be the face of our Diamond Jubilee Celebration Project.
If there were people in the community who were born, married or who met on Accession Day or Coronation Day, they were asked to tell their story. If there was someone who remembered the planting of a tree for any other royal occasion, such as the coronation of King George VI, they were invited to share their memories with a younger generation. Tree
Wardens found all sorts of other parallels or connections between local citizens and our monarch as they set about planning for a Jubilee Diamond Tree to be planted in their community. We provided them all with a large standard specimen of their chosen species of tree, along with all the necessary aids to establishment that would give their tree the best possible start in life. The community will provide the care needed to ensure that their tree survives to become a future Green Monument.
Each tree has been planted in a public place such as a park, on common land or school grounds during the planting seasons of the anniversary of both the Accession and Coronation years. Some Jubilee Diamond Trees were planted by local children with their grandparents, others by a Lord Lieutenant of the County. Commemorative plaques have been made for each tree and all have a web page on which the story of that tree is told.
These are the stories that we have captured and put together, in words and pictures, in this specially printed book: our Diamond Jubilee gift for Her Majesty The Queen.
1. Her Royal Highness and Lochcarron Primary School, Highlands, — Rowan
2. Wakefield Tree Wardens and Wakefield community groups, West Yorkshire— Wild Cherry
3. Wiltshire Tree Wardens and Fovant Village — English Oak
4. Teignbridge Tree Wardens and Kingsteignton Town Council, Devon — Cypress Oak
5. West Sussex Tree Wardens and Haywards Heath Town Council — Tulip Tree
6. Hinderclay Village, Suffolk — Oak Tree
7. Portsmouth and South Sea Tree Wardens and Milton Park School, Hampshire White Mulberry
8. South Somerset Tree Wardens and High Ham Primary School English Oak
9. Erewash Tree Wardens and Long Eaton School, Nottinghamshire—Scarlett Willow
32. West Sussex Tree Wardens and Fernhurst Parish Council — Copper Beech
33. North Shropshire Tree Wardens and St John the Evangelist Church, Lyneal with Colemere Ginkgo Biloba
34. Leicestershire Tree Wardens and Houghton on the Hill — Sequoia
35. South Cambridgeshire Tree Wardens and Haslingfield Parish Council — English Oak
36. West End Women’s and Girls Centre, Tyne and Wear Sweet Chestnut
37. Ridgewell Parish Council, Essex — English Oak
38. Wiltshire Tree Wardens and Upton Scudamore — Hornbeam
39. South Lakes Federation, Cumbria — Red
Oak
40. Wraysbury Windsor and Maidenhead Tree Wardens — Persian Ironwood
41. Chichester Tree Wardens and Chichester Parish Council, West Sussex Small leafed Lime Tree
42. St Madoc Centre, West Glamorgan Medlar Tree
43. Ringland Wood and Wildlife Conservation Group, Gwent — English Oak
44. Whitchurch C of E Primary School, Herefordshire Bramley Apple
45. Merton Tree Wardens and Stanford Primary School, London — Walnut Tree
46. Elmswild, Suffolk Medlar Tree
47. South Gloucestershire Tree Wardens and Patchway Town Council — English Oak
48. Leicestershire Tree Wardens and Little Hill Primary School Downey Birch
49. Surrey Tree Wardens and Thorpe Lee Primary School — Field Maple
50. Sir John Talbot Technology College, Shropshire — Cox Orange Pippin
51. Luston Primary School, Herefordshire
Weeping Willow
52. Hulland C of E Primary School, Derbyshire
Aspen
53. Lund Parish Council, North Humberside —
Black Mulberry
54. Scorton Parish Council, North Yorkshire
Red Horse Chestnut
55. Watling Lower School, Bedfordshire — Wild
Cherry Tree
56. Wadebridge School, Cornwall English Oak
57. West Sussex Tree Wardens and Boxgrove
Parish Council — English Oak
58. Bright Sparks Pre-School, Worcestershire
Black Mulberry
59. Villiers High School, London — Apple, Katy variety
60. Hove Park School, East Sussex Magnolia
Twenty children of all ages from the Lochcarron Primary School and Playgroup, accompanied by their parents, arrived one summer morning to plant a Jubilee Diamond Rowan tree. The Princess Royal arrived at nearby Achnasheen in a helicopter, having flown over from near Oban on the west coast. She was welcomed by the deputy Lord Lieutenant and councillors from Lochcarron.
Lochcarron Rowan
The site chosen for the Jubilee Tree was part of the Jubilee Diamond Wood, the first of two major woodlands that join
woodlands on the west and regeneration woodlands above Loch Sghabain on the eastern edge of the Glencarron Estate. The tree was planted just off the main path that gives the public access to two popular mountains and is used by an estimated 1,000 hill walkers each year.
Adjacent to the site are the remains of trees that formed part of the ancient Caledonian pine forest that covered the
northern part of Scotland from the last ice age about 11,000 years ago until some 5,000 years ago. The stumps and branches still retain their bark in the condition it was when the trees died, preserved in the peat whose acidic properties have acted as a preservative by killing the bacteria that would otherwise have rotted the bark and wood.
The weather was wonderful, having been wet and windy in the days leading up to the royal event, the clouds disappeared, the ground dried sufficiently for Her Royal HIghness to skip over to the planting site in her deck shoes. More than 100 trees were planted along with the Diamond Jubilee Tree, including willows and some oaks from royal acorns (from Prince Charles’s garden), under the watchful eyes of Scottish Woodlands staff and staff from the Woodland Trust.
The children arrived in two minibuses that were laid on by the estate. The Princess Royal helped some of them and quizzed them about the types of trees they were planting. One little boy was questioned about the types of tress and how many he had planted out of the bunch. Scottish Woodland staff explained to children that they were indigenous (Scottish) trees that would grow well in the area and could cope well with wet conditions. They also explained why deer fences and fertiliser were needed, and why the trees wouldn’t grow in peat and therefore had to be
planted in parts of the hill where there were minerals and good soil. The children returned to the minibus for drinks and shortbread before travelling back to Lochcarron. The parents of the children involved said thanks for the day out, grateful that it was midge free.
The children had come from a radius of 40 miles around Lochcarron, a very scattered community, and so it was an opportunity for them and their parents to get together during the school holidays when the playgroup and school were closed.
Wakefield Wild Cherry
together to plant a Prunus avium
Diamond Jubilee Tree at the Arboretum, Newmillerdam. Roger Parkinson, Chairman of the Wakefield Tree Wardens Group said “We wanted to mark this very special year by illustrating how so many people are helping to improve our local area. Our Arboretum is just one improvement we are very proud of and this tree will be at the centre of this increasingly popular visitor attraction”.
Local schoolchildren were involved in the celebration when they were asked to enter an art competition illustrating how Her Majesty the Queen had planted many trees over the 60 years of her reign and why trees are important for people and wildlife.
Book prizes were awarded at Wakefield Methodist School and the pictures were put on display at community events during the autumn.
The research and time spent by the children on the artwork allowed them to
Some of the entries by the pupils of the local primary schools into an artwork competition.
The newly planted Prunus avium ‘Plena’ Diamond Jubilee Tree.
find out more about the Jubilee and planting trees to commemorate important events. This Jubilee tree has its own entry in a Book of Dedication on view to the public at the Boat House, Newmillerdam near the Arboretum. This book illustrates many of the trees in the collection, lists donors to and sponsors of the project and will be a lasting record of this valuable addition to the Wakefield District. The Jubilee Tree was one of the last trees to be planted after a five-year restoration project carried out by Wakefield Tree Wardens and Wakefield Council.
The Jubilee Tree is now part of a wonderful collection set within the beautiful surroundings of Newmillerdam Country Park, which attracts more than 300,000 visitors each year.
Local volunteers from various groups came together to mark the planting of the Diamond Jubilee Tree.
Fovant Village English Oak
Sixty years ago, members of Fovant Silver Band marched down Fovant High Street and along the A30 to East Farm and played at the village celebration of the Queen's Coronation, held on the cricket pitch at East Farm.
In 1953 Fovant Band was amalgamated with Shaftesbury Town Silver Band but, because of this close historical connection, the village wanted to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with the band so they were asked to play once again on the cricket pitch at East
Farm. As recorded by the Fovant History
The Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Sarah Troughton, the Queen's representative in Wiltshire, was given a bouquet by Jodie Haskins (aged six).
Group, the weather on Coronation Day “was bitterly cold – as cold as an average
Darren Potter, a Parish Councillor, dug the hole and staked the tree in preparation for the ceremonial planting.
day in winter”. The weather on Sunday 24th March 2013 was said to be one of the coldest days in March for 50 years, with the temperature below freezing and a strong north-easterly wind. Two inches of snow had fell in Fovant the Sunday before.
The Reverend Kate Fergusson (above left) blessed the tree, expressing the hope that generations to come would remember the day it was planted to celebrate the Queen's reign and would protect and preserve it.
James Nuttall (above right) aged nine who lives in the village, played the
National Anthem on his trumpet.
Then the band played on stoically while the Lord Lieutenant was introduced to as many people as possible. When introduced to Mr Peter Wyatt, who lived in Fovant at the time of the Coronation, she asked him if he remembered it. “Yes, certainly.” he said.
“That was the year I was married!” “Well,” she replied, “that was a particularly important year for me because that was the year I was born!”.
When someone remarked “What a shame about the freezing weather”, the reply was “But we’re British!”. Hot drinks and refreshments were served afterwards from the cricket pavilion.
A gathering of over 60 local people attended the event, including a few who remembered the Coronation, and Andy Havard, Chairman of the Parish Council, welcomed everyone.
Kingsteignton Cypress Oak
Members of the community came together on Thursday 13th February, on a very wet day, to plant the specially awarded Queen’s Jubilee Tree in Oakford Lawn.
Children of all ages from Rydon and St Michael’s Primary Schools, a group of year 9 students from Teign School and two members of ‘Changes’ from Kingsteignton Youth Club accompanied by their peers took part in the tree-planting ceremony along
with Kingsteignton town councillors and staff and two members of the village trust who are the proud owners of Oakford Lawn.
Councillor Beryl Austen gave a short speech on the history of Oakford Lawn and explained the reason why the Village Trust had purchased the lawn to protect its future and provide such a beautiful tranquil setting for the benefit of the community. It is used and enjoyed daily by several residents of Kingsteignton as well as for the main event of the year, the Ram Roast Fair in May, which attracts thousands of people.
Councillor Beryl Austen (Tree Warden) placing the first spade of soil into the planting hole. The
Sadly last year, one of the oldest trees, a Turkey oak, had to be felled due to disease. This made the planting of the new cypress oak a truly memorable one, as it has not only been planted to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee, but is a replacement that will hopefully thrive in
first spadeful of soil to be placed by a child.
all its glory for as long as the other old oak trees.
After the planting had taken place, all were invited back to the OAP Hall at Oakford Lawn for refreshments and a slice of celebration cake. The Mayor, Councillor Keith Howard, presented the children with a Certificate of Appreciation for taking part in such a memorable event.
Joy for a generation
Using Oakford Lawn
Because of your Jubilee
In February 2013
Long live the tree
Enjoy the beauty
Ever lasting memories
Town of Kingsteignton
Remembering the Diamond Jubilee
Exciting day for us all
Ending in celebration for everyone
By Teign School students:
Katie Squirrell, Anna Scott, Jessie Peake, Owen Yarnall, Matt Preston, Zach
Harrison
Jubilee celebration cake.
Sue Cozens, Village Trust member.
St Michael’s School, child participating near to end of planting
Haywards Heath Tulip Tree
Muster Green got its name following a Civil War battle in 1642 when the Parliamentarians routed a small Royalist force. The whole surrounding area is now a Conservation Area. With its traditional ornamental flower beds, this enchanting green,
bordered by Victorian and Edwardian houses with the War Memorial at its apex, forms an impressive entrance to the town. The town has 48 listed buildings and one of the oldest, built in the 16th century, is the Sergison Pub and overlooks the green. We wanted young people to be involved in the planting and the local Oathall Community College students were invited to take part. Their Environmental Land Based students who specialise in horticulture were invited to help with the planting and they were delighted to take part to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. These students, along with members of the In Bloom Committee, members of the public and town councillors met at the town hall on Friday 23rd November 2012. The Council had laid on refreshments for everyone’s arrival. Town Councillor Sandy
Ellis, Chairman of Haywards Heath in Bloom, and Alan Colgate gave a short presentation to the students regarding the event.
Everyone then made their way to Muster Green where they met the Town Council’s grounds staff team who
Students filling in the hole.
Group photo of all who attended the tree planting.
explained to the students how the tree should be planted and guided them through it. Haywards Heath Town Mayor, Councillor
John Sabin, attended to thank everyone for their hard work and for marking this marvellous event.
Students take it in turns to fill the planting hole, overseen by grounds staff Maurice Francis and Andy Stempt.
The students said:
“We are studying for a Level 2 Land Based and Environmental Diploma, based at Oathall farm, and take a keen interest in the living world around us. Looking after our planet is very important and planting a tree is a symbolic way of respecting our environment for the future.
“We heard about the devastation of the Great Storm in 1987, and learnt about all the replacement trees on Muster Green and its history. We are looking forward to seeing ‘our’ tree thrive and like every visitor to our town, see it grow into a fine specimen for all to enjoy. By planting our own tree, we have made our own piece of history marking the 60-year Jubilee celebrations of our most wonderful Queen.”
John Blackholly – Head of Work Related Learning and Diploma, Howard Wood – Head of Oathall Farm, Carole Ransom – in-class support teacher. Year 11 students – Rosanna Curtis, Henry Langridge, Bradley Manville, Matthew Prentice, Katie Russell, Ben Simmonds, Ellie Tijou.
Hinderclay Village English Oak
On 2nd December 2012 an oak tree was planted in the village of Hinderclay, as a memorial to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. First it was necessary to remove the horse chestnut tree, which was planted to commemorate George VI’s Coronation and which had been resplendent on the village green for so many years, as it was dying both from age and a virus. The day of the planting dawned fine and sunny but rather cold for
the village spectators, who numbered nearly 60.
A suitable hole had duly been dug to receive the oak and as it was placed in the hole it was blessed by our rector, the
Reverend John Fulton. Two little girls, Seren (aged 3) and Nia Jones (aged 2), with two boys Arthur Wade (aged 12) and Joshua Overall (also aged 12), all of them
The Jubilee Oak
The majestic oak standing tall and proud upon Hinderclay village green.
A legacy of the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, our Queen.
Firmly planted in its place at the cross-roads for all to see.
This is our village legacy of Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee
As the years go by, our oak will grow upwards, wild and free
And as our children return to the green they will remember Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee. from the village, helped to plant the tree. The villagers then walked to the village hall for mulled wine and mince pies kindly donated by a village family and the Parish Council, all much appreciated.
To entertain the children, an oak was drawn and put on the floor for the youngsters to paint (getting a little on themselves!), after which they were given cutouts of animals to stick onto it. It really was a memorable occasion enjoyed by all.
Milton Park is one of two major parks in Portsmouth. Milton Park had its beginnings in 1912, when Milton Farm was purchased from the Goldsmith family by Portsmouth City Council. The park was officially opened in 1923, so this tree celebrates not only the Queen’s Jubilee but also the centenary of the park’s origins. We decided on a white mulberry Morus alba platanifolia as we thought the white blossom and fruits re-
Milton Park Mulberry
event appeared in the Portsmouth News on 30th November 2012 and my letter of thanks was published on 3rd December 2012. More crocuses were planted on 12th December, when the bed was turfed over, to emerge through the grass in the spring. It was a happy occasion enjoyed by everyone present, and it brought members of the local groups together.
flected the Diamonds of the Jubilee.
Councillor Frank Jonas kindly agreed to carry out the planting during National Tree Week, with the help of the schoolchildren and supported by the community members. Afterwards, snowdrops, white crocuses and white alliums were planted round the base of the tree. A photo of the
Portsmouth and Southsea Tree Wardens.
The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth with the children from Milton Park Primary School and Wimbourne Junior Schooll
Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Frank Jonas, Bessie McKnight from Milton Park Primary School and Tree Warden Pauline Powel.
High Ham English Oak
On Tuesday 27th November 2012, seven schoolchildren from High Ham Primary School, the elected primary school council braved the cold wind to help plant the tree supervised by Paul Brunsdon (Tree
Warden), teacher Kirsten Carrol and local artist and assistant teacher Kate Lynch. They made sketches and notes as the tree was planted and have been encouraged to return from time to time to check its progress. Other keen volunteers joined in, including local residents and the chairman of the playing field committee and landlord of the King’s Head, Peter Brown.
Back at High Ham Primary School, nine children each created their own drawing depicting the tree planting and High Ham School children with Tree Warden Paul Brunsdon, Playing Field Committee Chairman Peter Brown, and artist Kate Lynch.
events held earlier in the year in and near this field including a tea party and bonfire party. Under Kate’s supervision the individual panels were joined to form a splendid giant patchwork. One copy is now hanging on the school and we hope to hang another in the village hall.
Patchwork art celebrating the Diamond Jubilee.
Long Eaton Scarlett Willow
Tree wardens, staff and students old and new from the Long Eaton School helped the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Mr William Tucker, plant a special tree to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Helping Mr Tucker was Headteacher Mr Neil Calvert, Tree Warden Barbara James and Eco-Interact President Daisy Kelsey.
It was very appropriate that Rotarian Alan Wiggins, who had been a student at the school during the Coronation 60 years
ago, and Milly Dainty, one of the school’s youngest students, helped to plant the prestigious tree.
Erewash Borough Council Tree Warden, staff from Initial and gardeners from Woodland Landscapes Ltd helped to
prepare the ground for planting.
Scarlet willow, also called coral-bark willow, (Salix alba ‘Chermesina’), has brightorange twigs in winter when it becomes a conspicuous fine waterside tree reaching a height of 28 metres. In winter sunlight, the tree is like a giant flame.
Barbara James, Eco-Interact Coordinator, said, “This tree will look really lovely as a memento for the Diamond Jubilee and will also create a bit of local history”.
Bacton Village Hornbeam
A hornbeam was planted in Church Road beside the village sign in Bacton by children from the village. Freya Llewllyn (aged 10) and Eloise Probitts (aged 8) took part in a ceremony attended by parish councillors and Tree Warden Peter Smith, in the village near Stowmarket.
The project is a continuation of the
the Queen’s coronation, the Silver Jubilee and the Millenium.
The village encourages the integration of the two local schools (primary and middle) and social groups such as Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Guide groups to get involved in various projects and this planting was no exception. New plaques have been recently commissioned for our existing special trees to ensure their significance is not lost.
It is hoped that this new tree the
focus for learning and social projects in the local schools groups and village as a whole.
Marlborough Black Mulberry
An enthusiastic crowd of about 150 attended the event, which Philippa Davenport of Marlborough Community Orchard described as “the culmination of our achievements – so far. We choose a black mulberry tree because it is handsome, exceptionally long lived, deliciously fruitful and has such strong royal connections: the crowning glory for our Diamond Jubilee Plantation.”
Marlborough’s black mulberry is a variety called King James. It is descended
from trees planted in 1608 by the King himself and by thousands of loyal supporters throughout the country. One of the King’s very own trees still bore fruit in 1931 in a site now within the gardens of Buckingham Palace. Another was felled in what is now Chelsea Physic Gardens to make way for an air raid shelter during World War II, but not before cuttings were taken from it. Prince Charles planted one of the direct descendants of this particular tree at Brogdale in 1993.
King James urged people to plant mulberry trees because he wanted to start a silk industry here. Unfortunately for spinners and weavers (but happily for fruit lovers), he chose the wrong colour. Silkworms thrive on a diet of soft, easily chewed white mulberry leaves. The leaves of the black mulberry are too leathery for them to munch willingly.
A special version of the old rhyme “Here we go round the mulberry bush” was performed with gusto by 1st
The spade used for planting was loaned by MTC Head Gardener, Richard Beale, who reported that the Queen herself had used it a few years before.
Marlborough Brownies in Oscar-winning style on Marlborough Common on Sunday afternoon (28th April) as part of a mulberry tree-planting ceremony. The words “on a cold and frosty morning” were changed to “on a cool and cloudy Sunday”. New verses included “this is the way we pick the fruit”, “this is the way we stir the jam” and “this is the way we eat our berries”, and appropriate actions were performed.
Guests of honour at Marlborough’s event were Sue Clifford and Angela King, founders of the award-winning environmental charity Common Ground, creators of Apple Day and the inspiration behind the revived community orchard movement.
Addressing the children present she said “Learning how to care for orchard trees and the wildlife they support, and how to harvest and use the fruit, is important. Be
sure to teach your children and grandchildren, so this mulberry tree, which may live for 400 years or more, can delight and feed many future generations.” She loved the
The Reverend Canon Andrew StuddertKennedy blessed the mulberry and the crowd with holy water.
idea of making mulberry jam and sending a pot to the Queen. “Maybe you should call it Marlberry jam,” she suggested.
The party then withdrew to nearby Marlborough Rugby Clubhouse to look at a display of mulberry-related exhibits (including a silk moth and some silk cocoons; and a photograph of The Queen laughing and talking with mulberry jam-makers) and to enjoy a taste of royal scones and mulberry jam. The scones may not have been baked by the Prince of Wales’s own fair hands but they were his Duchy brand (kindly donated by Waitrose), generously spread with Tiptree’s mulberry conserve.
“We’ve had a right royal time” enthused one departing guest, “I can hardly wait for our very own jam session”.
Tasburgh Village English Oak
The green is a lovely natural gateway to Tasburgh. It is in the historic part of the village which grew up along the old Roman Road and one of the features on the Boudica Way. Along with the village sign, it seemed a natural place to plant a special tree in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee.
While there were celebrations in Tasburgh in 2012, we wanted to do something that could be enjoyed by future
generations. Planting a tree would allow present residents to pass down the memories to their children and grandchildren. An oak tree was chosen as it would last for many years and it will stand
out and be unique on the green and in the village.
The tree was planted on 27th November 2012 by eight children of Preston Primary School in conjunction with the headteacher, Mrs Lesley Payne, teachers Mrs Debra Newson and Mrs Florence Ellis, our District Councillor. The children will be
Area of the green in Tasburgh prior to the planting.
Children of Preston Primary School with Councillor Mrs Florence Ellis.
Mrs Lesley Payne, Mrs Debra Newson and children with Tree Warden Steve Beckett.
encouraged to keep a watchful eye on the tree to help it settle and grow and be enjoyed by everyone who comes to Tasburgh. The children composed a poem to mark the occasion.
Our Diamond Jubilee Tree
This tree Will push roots down And stand sturdy
Will reach branches out And provide protection
Will be green and gracious In summer
Will weather the frosts and winds Of winter
Will remind us of sixty years Of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II
Will remain as a sign that Tasburgh is a special place.
Stapleford Village Whitebeam
On Saturday 13th April, and in glorious sunshine, about 80 parishioners attended the planting of the Queen’s tree, a whitebeam (Sorbus aria ‘Majestica’).
The planting was done on the recreation ground by a group of ‘royals’ – people who were born in the same year as the Queen. They were ably assisted by a group of
young people, one of whom buried a time capsule under the tree. The capsule contained, among other things, a computer memory stick of the 2012 Jubilee celebrations.
The ‘royals’ cut a ceremonial cake and the event was completed with coffee and caked in the recently completed pavilion. The tree is being properly looked after and is doing well.
Sherston Village English Oak
Sherston village held a special tree planting ceremony on 16th December 2012 to honour their new Diamond Jubilee Tree. The ash sapling is the village’s third jubilee tree. The first was planted in 1897 to mark
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, and a golden ash tree was planted in 2002 for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Sherston Scouts, led by Riaan
van Rooyen, dug the hole for the project and oversaw the planting in a ceremony with help from older Explorer Scouts.
Riaan Van Rooyen said: “We had members of the community there and the Reverend Susan Harvey blessed the tree. The Scouts were there and a former Scout leader from 1971. It was helped by the lovely weather.”
Reverend Susan Harvey blessing the newly planted Jubilee Diamond Tree.
Framsden Village American Elm
Our small village of Framsden, of just 300 people, chose to place the special Jubilee Tree next to the village sign, which was designed by the children seven years ago. The 66 children of Helmingham School, with their teachers, prepared songs and poems and helped to plan the ceremony, which was memorable!
We are fortunate to have beautiful countryside with ancient meadows and oak trees. Old elm trees used to mark our parish boundaries and we have recorded a
The woodland group already lease a small piece of woodland from the Helmingham Estate, to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. We have worked hard on this community woodland as a place for the village to enjoy throughout the seasons. This elm will be a feature for those journeying through our village and we hope the Queen will be able to stop and visit our tree soon!
row of four healthy pollarded elms during a veteran tree survey in 1998. We chose an elm as a way of putting back a tree species from our heritage.
The smaller children are fascinated to contemplate how tall the tree will be as they grow up into adulthood. Some of the older children can tell them of trees planted at the school when they were their age.
National Tree Week began in an unpromising manner. It was dull, dreary and wet. The ground was sodden and the Wealden Clay of Burgess Hill slippery and squelchy. But we were going to plant our Special Jubilee Diamond Tree on 29 November 2012 whatever the weather!
We hoped the sun would shine but were satisfied with a dry morning as children from four nursery schools were coming to
Burgess Hill Hornbeam
help with the planting. They had been busy drawing trees, making leaf prints, singing songs and telling stories about our wonderful trees that grow so well in the south-east. A lovely display of their work was on show at the Help Point.
The weather was improving when the Town Mayor and his wife, the Chairman of the District Council, Tree
Wardens and other arrived. Most importantly, Burgess Hill Town Council’s Mobile Maintenance Team came, armed with spades ready to dig the large hole in the heavy clay for our special tree. Fortunately, our chosen tree, a hornbeam thrives on heavy clay soil. Ten-thirty was approaching fast but, where were the children? Then, from the four corners of the park/ common we spotted tiny figures making their way across the muddy, squelchy grass. Now the group was complete. We all listened to a few short speeches and finally our Jubilee Diamond Tree was planted! Many people volunteered to put a little soil around the roots. Needless to say, little tots of three and four years old wanted to help and felt proud of their efforts
with help from grown-ups to manage the heavy spades. The children certainly enjoyed themselves and, we hope that in 60 years’ time they will be able to say to their children:
“We helped to plant this Jubilee Diamond hornbeam and remember Queen Elizabeth II who did so much for our country”.
Display created by Tudor House Montessori Groups (Tudor House, Rosebud, Lavender Lodge) and TiggyWigs Children’s Day Nursery.
Display created by Tudor House Montessori Groups (Tudor House, Rosebud, Lavender Lodge) and TiggyWigs Children’s Day Nursery.
Warwick Town Tulip Tree
A variegated tulip tree was chosen as an attractive and unusual tree for this special commemoration and St Nicholas Park was chosen as it is the main park in Warwick and much used by local people and visitors. The tree was planted on 1st December 2012, during National Tree Week. A Saturday was chosen so that the schoolchildren and the Brownies could come as well as the Friends of the Park, Tree Wardens and
members of the local community.
Saturday started overcast and there was a little sleety rain before the sky cleared and the sun shone on our ceremony. The hole was dug by Tony Hemming of Warwick District Council and Tree Warden Sarah Ridgeway. The planting was accomplished by the Lord Lieutenant, the Mayor of
Just a few of those who gathered to mark the Jubilee Tree planting.
The Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Sir Martin Dunne, the Mayor of Warwick, Elizabeth Higgins, and Brownies.
Local members of the community came to the planting and shared their memories of the Coronation. Also we arranged a small exhibition of Coronation memorabilia at the tearoom in the park by kind permission of the management.
Exactly 60 years after the Coronation in 2013 is also the 80th anniversary of the opening of St Nicholas Park and 1,100 years since Warwick was refounded by Queen Ethelfleda following its sacking by the Danes. We can claim a very long connection with royalty.
Warwick and the Brownies and other children.
Once the tree was safely planted we invited the assembled company to the tearoom to view the exhibition and have refreshments.
Pamela Whitlock, who assembled a commemorative display at the tree-planting ceremony together with members of the public.
Lesley Hall of Warwick Tree Wardens Scheme with St Nicholas Brownies.
Duncton Red Horse Chestnut
Duncton is a small village, with a population of fewer than 300 but has a very strong sense of belonging. After much discussion of tree varieties it was decided that we would ask for a red horse chestnut tree (Aesculus x carnea ‘Briottii’) as this would match the mature tree diagonally opposite the proposed planting site on the other side of the main road. The chosen site of the tree is near the children’s playground and the village school, the idea being that the parish council would buy and maintain a circular seat around the tree so that mothers of children playing could sit and talk.
The tree was delivered in mid-April 2013 – a magnificent specimen a good 11 feet (3.2 metres) tall. The tree was already beginning to develop buds, so needed planting quickly. It had to be transported to the village green tied vertically to the back of
Kestrel Class (Year 6) from Duncton C of E School beside the Jubilee Tree.
an old Landrover – a magnificent sight! Pat Darley and Chris Davies, both parish council members, did the planting. We also added a wire mesh guard around the trunk – there are many rabbits in the area that just love young bark, as do the local deer!
Since the planting the weather has been very dry. The Tree Warden has transported several rainbutt loads of water – again on the back of the Landrover, but more importantly, nearby residents have been carrying many water buckets, especially during the very hot days.
Our village school, which is in federation with the adjacent parish of Graffham School, is a Forest School, with children spending time each week throughout the year, regardless of weather, in the local woods discovering for themselves the richness of the plants and animals that we are so lucky have in the wild around this area.
Walsall Persian Ironwood
One of the principle aims of the Walsall Tree Warden Group is to involve the borough’s young people in as many treebased activities as possible, so the opportunity to participate in such an important event as the Diamond Jubilee Tree planting was perfect.
Historically, Walsall is an industrial town situated at the heart of the Midlands conurbation and famous for the manufacture of leather goods. The town has seen many changes both in industry and population yet its green spaces remain an important feature. The Arboretum, covering some 175 acres, has since Victorian times been a much -loved local park stretching from the centre of the town to the surrounding green belt. What better location to plant a Diamond Tree commemorating such a historic event.
A time capsule being buried in the hole.
Group photo of all who attended the planting.
Pauline Buchanan Black with local dignitaries.
On Friday 8th February in the Victorian Park area of Walsall Arboretum, local dignitaries and residents gathered to witness the planting of a Persian ironwood by the Director General of the Tree Council, Pauline Buchanan Black. The planting was an additional celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee following the planting of 60 sweet chestnut trees in the park last year.
Before planting the ironwood Pauline praised the borough for its positive support of tree planting and congratulated the local Tree Wardens on their successful application for this one of only 60 trees donated nationwide by the Tree Council.
To the delight of all attending this memorable occasion, pupils and staff of Chuckery School gave an animated presentation in appreciation of their park and the importance of trees in our lives. Alongside the tree, they also buried a time capsule containing written memories of the Arboretum from themselves as well as older residents of the town.
On behalf of the Walsall Tree Wardens and Walsall Arboretum User Group, Jackie Cocken and Jo Lester thanked Ms Buchanan Black for travelling from London to officiate in the planting. They said that the Persian ironwood had
been chosen as its variety of colour at different times of the year would give great pleasure to park visitors and because it was the only example in the Borough.
Pauline Buchanan Black, Director General of the Tree Council, planting the ironwood tree.
Pauline Buchanan Black and Chuckery Junior Tree Wardens.
This is the story behind Barton St
Barton St David English Oak
David’s Jubilee Diamond Tree. Barton St
David is a village in Somerset located approximately 14 miles north of Yeovil and 5 miles south of Glastonbury.
The planting position of our tree is such that it is near our Diamond Jubilee Wood. This wood was a project started by a village member who kindly donated a sum of money to buy the 2.7 hectare field. The field has now been planted (23rd November 2013) by volunteers with 800 trees and shrubs (oak, lime, beech, silver birch, rowan, crabapple, etc.). Diamond Jubilee Wood has a picnic table, a community orchard of 20 fruit trees and a wildflower meadow and will be an amazing natural amenity for everyone to enjoy. Prior to planting the new wood, we scattered 42,000 Flanders red poppy seeds. We hope these will flower in 2014 providing a poignant village tribute to mark the centenary of World War I.
Our oak tree arrived on 14th January 2013 and was planted the next day.
Barton St David’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations were wonderful, gardens were opened and many cream teas were devoured. The weekend culminated on Monday evening, 4th June 2012, with a fantastic evening party in a marquee on the village playing field.
The Diamond Jubilee beacon, featuring crowns around the top (having been made
specially for the event) was lit at 9 pm. Looking back at how this village has celebrated other royal occasions, for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953, Mr Griffiths, the village shopkeeper, made a
wooden seat for the village. Unfortunately, this seat was demolished in a road accident in the 1970s but a replacement was purchased and the original commemorative plaque put onto the new seat. Mr Griffith’s daughter, Susan Clifford, made the journey from Christchurch in Dorset on a cold, snowy January day to be at the planting of the Jubilee Diamond Tree.
Going back a bit further, one of our church bells was given to commemorate the Coronation of King George V in 1911.
And going back further still, Barton St David has a connection with American ‘royalty’. Henry Adams was born in this parish in about 1583. Later he emigrated to North America and two of his descendants became presidents of the United States –John Adams (1797–1801) and John Quincey Adams (1825–1829).
Barton St David is proud to have our
Jubilee Diamond oak tree and we hope this tree, together with the Diamond Jubilee Wood, will give great pleasure to our village and the wider community for generations to come.
Scraptoft Village English Oak
Scraptoft is a small, but rapidly growing, Leicestershire village. The Parish Council is fortunate enough to own a large open space in the centre of the
plant stall and a variety of stalls run by local charities.
This event was a great success but we wanted a more permanent record of the Jubilee so the Parish Council decided it would like to plant an English oak on Edith
village, the Edith Cole Memorial Park, and on the morning of Monday 4th June 2012 it was the scene of great activity. First the
marquee arrived and then the trestle tables. The WI, the Scraptoft Wine Circle, the 50 Club, the Tree Warden and the Archaeological Warden all organized their displays and stalls. They were joined by local craftspeople demonstrating their skills. Outside the marquee there was a
Chris Faulkes, Clinton Barratt, Peter Elliott, Nelson Renner.
Owen Papworth and Louis Barratt.
Sarah Papworth, Owen Papworth, Louis and Clinton Barratt, Nelson Renner and Maxwell Barratt.
Cole Memorial Park where the Diamond Jubilee Celebration had taken place. Ruth produced posters advertising the planting and contacted the local primary school and the two nursery schools. The vicar agreed to ring the church bells before and after the planting ceremony and all was arranged for Saturday 23rd March.
Our tree was delivered on Monday 18th March and willing helpers organized to oversee the planting. However, this was the
week of the snow! On Saturday 23rd March a blizzard was blowing and Edith Cole was blanketed in snow. Obviously the planting could not go ahead and it was re-arranged for Saturday 30th March. As it was Easter Saturday the Church bells could not be rung but several local children and other helpers enthusiastically planted our diamond oak. It now stands as a permanent reminder of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in Scraptoft.
All Saints Church is opposite the park and it provided the venue for refreshments, a display of the winning poems from the children’s poetry competition and an old-time music hall performance by the Scraptoft Players. We were fortunate in that the weather on the afternoon of Monday 4th June turned out warm and sunny and so the event was very well supported. The village pub, the White House, was kept busy by the demand for long cold drinks and pub food. The day was
rounded off by the arrival of a hot-air balloon. It had been intended to launch this from Edith Cole but the winds were unfavourable so the balloon was tethered and residents were able to enjoy limited balloon ascents.
The WI stall in the marquee on 4th June 2012.
Tree Warden Chris Faulkes.
Girton is a village of about 1,600 households situated to the north-west of the city of Cambridge. The village has a long history, with people living here since preSaxon times. The old name for Girton was Gretton, meaning 'village on the gravel', so-
Girton Village English Oak
called because the settlement grew up along a gravel ridge.
On a bright, sunny afternoon on 8th April 2013, over 40 Girton residents of all ages joined in with the Queen’s Jubilee Diamond Oak Tree planting event on the Hibbert-Ware Garden, opposite St Andrew’s church in the heart of the village. The Hibbert-Ware Garden, named after Alice Hibbert-Ware, a local and national
naturalist, was a most suitable location for such an important heritage tree. We were very pleased with the warm support of the many Girton villagers. In particular, we were very grateful to the 1st/2nd
Cambridgeshire Cubs & Scouts and their akela, Karen Alsop, for their enthusiasm and hard work in digging the hole and planting the tree under the supervision of the Girton Tree Warden, Derek Cull. Tea, squash and homemade cakes were provided by Libby Cull for everyone to enjoy.
The 10-year-old, 3 metre tall English oak (Quercus robur) was chosen for its association with the British monarchy and its importance as a habitat for wildlife. The tree became more commonly known as the Royal Oak when Charles II hid in an oak tree in Shropshire to avoid capture by Oliver Cromwell in 1651. The oak was also important in the construction of some of our most famous 16th- to 18th-century warships, such as Henry VIII’s Mary Rose and George III’s HMS Victory, the latter requiring some 6,000 oak trees to construct. However, if left to grow, the oak can survive in excess of 1,000 years and provides a habitat for more organisms, and especially insects, than any other tree in the UK. In fact a mature oak tree can support up to 284 species of
insect, bird, mammal, fungus and plant. Even our immature tree already has brown ‘Malteser’ oak galls, home to the common oak gall wasp.
Evening events followed the planting so that all the cubs, scouts and brownies could appreciate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and take ownership of their tree. We hope this tree will become a heritage tree for all the young people of Girton.
Rose Hill Magnolia
We chose a to plant a Magnolia kobus for the Arboretum as the area that was chosen for the planting was dedicated to magnolias as part of the original design by John Claudius Loudon
at its opening in 1840. Loudon laid out the trees in the Arboretum in family groups, both Joseph Strutt and Loudon wanted the Arboretum to be a place where people could not only relax and take exercise, but would also have the opportunity to improve their minds. We are extending the collection of magnolias in this area to reflect Loudon’s original design.
We planted the tree with pupils from St James School (which shares a boundary with the Arboretum) on 25th
March. Prior to this we had a session with the children in Grove Lodge (on the Arboretum adjacent to the planting location) and worked through information on how to choose, plant, look after trees and talked about the history and importance of the Arboretum over the last 173 years.
The Arboretum was England's first public park and is home to over 200 trees. In 1840, it was given to the Town Council of Derby by Strutt – a local cotton mill
owner and the first mayor of the Reformed Borough of Derby – to provide the people with a place for exercise and recreation in what was then a rapidly growing town.
Strutt was so thankful to the working people of Derby for helping his family make their fortune that he commissioned the renowned John Claudius Loudon – an influential writer on horticulture and garden design in the early 1800s – to design the park.
The Arboretum was officially opened on 17th September 1840, and the
Town Council marked the occasion with a three-day public holiday. The celebrations attracted over 20,000 visitors and included a procession by the town’s dignitaries, music, tea and dancing in the park, a hot-air balloon launch and a firework display. Today, the park has unique heritage value. It attracts national and international visitors, and is included in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens and is a Grade II* listed landscape.
This charming park has been refurbished with funding from Heritage Lottery and the Council. Over £5 million was invested to restore buildings and provide new facilities for toddlers and older children. Work was completed in 2005. After a lengthy local campaign, a new bronze replica of the Florentine Boar statue, produced at cost by a local engineer Alex Paxton, was finally put in place in November 2005.
Lathom Village Bramley
Lathom was the historic home of the Earls of Derby, and the first Earl’s second wife was Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. The 18th-century house that replaced the one partly destroyed in the Civil War had a pleasure garden as well as a kitchen garden. This later house was demolished after World War I, but the
pleasure garden remains with some nowmagnificent trees, including a rather fine apple, hence the choice of a ‘Bramley’s Seedling’ for our school.
In the very same year as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, our small village school is celebrating being open for over 160 years. The 78 children aged 4–11 calculated that when Princess Elizabeth was being crowned, their school must have been celebrating its centenary!
The children made preparations planning where our tree would be happiest, how and when it should be planted and, very importantly, who should plant it. The children on our school council group decided that we should ask a special friend Mr Tom Holland. He was chosen for many reasons: he farms the land around our school and waves to us from his tractor.
The school council also decided that Mr Holland’s two grandchildren, Thomas and Ava, together with school’s two youngest pupils, Fallon Davies and Scarlet McManus, should help him to plant our tree.
On 17th April 2013, a rare sunny day, after several very frosty nights over Easter spent wrapped in an eiderdown in
Scarlett McManus and others planting the tree.
All pupils of Westhead Lathom St James C of E Primary School.
the warden’s garden, our tree was planted on our school field. Meanwhile, our gardening club had been successful in their bid to win a gardening competition based on a poem telling the story of their many achievements despite challenges and setbacks. Part of the First Prize money is being used to buy a circular bench to surround The Jubilee Diamond Tree with individual, personalised cushions to be made by children and parents. We are calling it our, Peace Bench. The title was chosen by the children because they want to demonstrate the ethos behind our school’s prayer, believing that peace in our world can begin at home and school. This prayer was part of the service held around the planting of our Jubilee Diamond Tree. A copy of this account is also being added to the time capsule that the children in the oldest class, Wise Owls, are putting together to bury in the walls of the loft conversion currently underway to house their new classroom.
Holland, Ava Holland, Scarlet McManus and Fallon Davies, and Gardening Club leader and helper Lynda Tither and Susanne Wing.
Special thanks to: Andrew Beeston; tree planters Tom Holland, Thomas
Tom Holland, Thomas Holland, Alison Albion, Ava Holland, Scarlett McManus, Fallon Davies.
Andrew Beeston, Tom Holland, Thomas Holland, Ava Holland, Scarlett McManus, Fallon Davies.
Brockley American Elm
Given the weather in the spring of 2013, we had to be content with a cold and blustery day, thankful at least that the rain held off! Students and staff from Prendergast Hilly Fields College, Brockley Society members, Friends of Hilly Fields, Brockley over-50s Social Club members, local government officers and councillors, local dignitaries and the Metropolitan Mounted Police (below) gathered to plant the tree on 22nd May 2013.
We all agreed that a fitting choice would be a disease-resistant elm. It is a US cultivar called Ulmus americana 'Princeton Riveredge'. This is the only elm with a proven track record of disease resistance and there are thriving avenues in the USA that are over 80 years old. Its parents derive from trees dated to over 287 years old. The first avenue planted in the UK was at Highgrove for Prince Charles.
Local dignitary Sybil Phoenix addressed the group with Clare Cowen, Chair of Brockley Society, and Tree Wardens Anthony Russell and Nicola Ferguson.
The Hilly Fields Jubilee Tree planting ceremony provided a focus for many people in Brockley to come together to commemorate the Queen's coronation in 1953. It gave a number of senior citizens the opportunity to share their memories
with young people who in turn may share their memories of this event 60 years from now.
William Newport told of his vivid memories of the Downham Estate street party that ran almost the whole length of Shaw road. He said the bunting and flags and all the street decorations were so bright and cheerful in the post-war gloom. He
Anthony Russell and Sybil with Metropolitan Police and Prendergast students.
John Thompson, head of Lewisham's Green Scene and chief Tree Officer Rick Farr with Antoine Gros-Desirs from the Glendale Park team.
remembers the gifts everyone received and the delight for a small child – the plentiful spread on the table and most of all – the jellies!
Kathleen Gibbs (91) worked at a residential nursery in Ladywell. She and three friends went to the Mall the night before the Coronation and enjoyed the fun and excitement of the atmosphere all through the night. The band of the Scots Guards played requests and small groups of
the public were allowed up the Mall to wave at the balcony of Buckingham Palace in the morning. They had a clear view of the Queen as the coaches drove down the Mall. Other seniors told how they acquired the first family TV to watch the Coronation whilst others remembered lining the streets in the week following the Coronation to wave at the Queen and Prince Philip as they visited many parts of London.
Local dignitary Sybil Phoenix addressed the group with Clare Cowen, Chair of the Brockley Society.
Dorothy Hogbin (78) had a particularly interesting family connection with the Coronation. Her father-in-law was a foreman at Dorman Longs the building and scaffolding company which secured the contract to put up all the scaffolding along the route and inside Westminster Abbey. Dot has a number of publications of the time showing pictures of the scaffolding inside the Abbey. Dot's in-laws and other workers involved in the preparations were invited to the Coronation and they sat high up in the eaves of the Abbey.
The youngest planters
The Vines Ginkgo Biloba
The big day arrives! 26th November, 2012. The Council’s Arboriculture contractors arrived at The Vines at 9 am. They dig the tree pit and find in the pit … one small piece of blue and white Victorian pottery (Willow pattern?) and an oyster shell.
The tree is planted and staked, adding a small amount of mycorrhizal fungi to the tree pit. We erect a Union flag, the Friends of The Vines banner and the park’s Green Flag Award. The St Margaret’s at Troy Town schoolchildren of Year 6 arrive holding their poems to be read at the ceremony, as do many other local dignitaries and residents who wish to participate in this special ceremony. Amazingly after many consecutive days of rain, our ceremony is blessed by a rare couple of hours of sunshine, and all umbrellas remain closed!
about the importance and meaning of this tree planting, as well as mentioning the Ginkgo biloba tree at his home in Penshurst Place, which is now over 150 years old and taller than the tower. Nine children from Troy Town School read poetry and prose relating to the tree and the occasion.
Following the ceremony the visiting dignitaries and committee members of The Friends of The Vines were invited to the home of Ian and Ruth McLeod for a cup of tea.
The Chair of The Vines Friends Group introduces Viscount De L’Isle, the Medway Mayor and the schoolchildren, and welcomes the assembled crowd to the event. As well as formally planting the tree with a spade of soil, Lord De L’Isle talks
Horsham American Elm
On Saturday 1st December Horsham Park was looking very beautiful in an early morning frost and emerging sunshine. Local schoolchildren were
royal outfits and the Sussex Band of the Royal British Legion (below) played as they processed to the spot where the tree was planted. Jane Apostolou of the Horsham Town Community Partnership thanked Michael McCabe (Tree Warden) for his success in securing the tree and stated that it was very important that we continue to plant trees particularly because of the recent disease affecting ash trees.
invited to attend dressed as kings, queens, princes and princesses (left). The children looked fantastic in their
Councillor Leonard Crosbie, Chairman of Horsham District Council.
occasion and will remember in years to come that they were the Horsham residents who took part.
The band played several pieces of music connected to the theme such as ‘A Walk in the Black Forest’ and ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’. They played on despite the cold. We wish to express a huge thank you to them for coming along and a big thank you to the Rotary Club who very kindly made a donation towards the cost from their Making a Difference Fund.
Leonard Crosbie, Chair of Horsham District Council also attended to mark this historic event and very kindly encouraged the children to complete the planting which they did with much enthusiasm until there was no soil left. They all enjoyed the
Councillor Leonard Crosbie, children of North Holmes and Trafalgar schools, Michael McCabe (Tree Warden) and Councillor Jane Apostolou.
Children from Abbey Park First School played their part in the planting of an English oak tree on Monday 26th November. Pershore has its own historical links to the Crown. In AD972 King Edgar enabled Benedictine monks to establish a monastery and that in 1065 Edward the Confessor granted some of the income from the monastery’s property to sustain the monks
Pershore English Oak
Abbey, Dr Judy Dale and the Reverend Kenneth Crawford, who completed the planting with the help of the children with their trowels.
At a short ceremony, the Pershore Tree Warden John Andrews thanked those who had helped to make the town’s bid for a tree successful and asked the children to treasure the tree during their lifetimes.
of Westminster Abbey. Because of this, Pershore Abbey became known as ‘The Mother of Westminster”’. To this day the appointment of the vicar of Pershore comes through Westminster.
The planting took place in the grounds of Pershore’s Abbey Park, adjacent to the Abbey and was attended by Councillor Val Wood, and, representing the
Councillor Valerie Wood and children from Abbey Park First School.
The Reverend Kenneth Crawford, vicar of Pershore Abbey.
Tree Warden John Andrews, Thomas Andrews and children from Abbey Park First School.
Our Oak, Our Queen Queen of England, king of English trees, Through any storm, any weather, standing strong,
Their strength used to conquer the seas, Representing the country to which they belong,
Their distinguished omnipresence, remarkably everlasting, Leader of this kingdom, fabric of societies,
Rejoiced, revered, respected, reassuring, Who doesn't know of these influential monarchies?
Our oak, our Queen, our formidable foundation,
Our Queen, our oak, the heart of our great nation.
Finn Andrews (aged 11)
Councillor Valerie Wood, Tree Warden John Andrews, the Reverend Kenneth Crawford, church warden Judith Dale and children from Abbey Park First School.
The hamlet of Bailey Green is one of several that make up the village of Privett in the parish of Froxfield. Over the last 40 years it has lost the two pubs, the village shop, the post office, the school, and the church is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. So the village hall at Bailey Green is seen as central to the village. The hall will be renovated in a community-led project, and the planting of the Diamond Jubilee Tree will help to reinforce this area as the village centre.
Froxfield English Oak
Privett has a relatively low percentage of woodland (10%) compared to Hampshire (about 20%) so the trees alongside the lanes and in public spaces are a very important component of the village landscape.
An English oak was selected to complement the two oaks already sited on Bailey Green, one of which was planted 10 years ago by local resident Pete Jackson to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The other was planted 20 years ago by Mrs Bailey in memory of her husband because they enjoyed living there. The canopies of the existing two trees are starting to combine. In time there will be three tree trunks and one combined canopy. It’s a small difference in age between the three trees as oaks live for several hundreds of years.
The 8th December 2012 started with about 40 local residents and 10 dogs going on a 4 mile walk around the village of
Privett. On this bright and sunny morning they set out from the church along lanes and footpaths before entering private woodlands and arable farmland. Large areas of the woodlands had been felled during World War II and replanted by the Forestry Commission with western red cedar and western hemlock in the late 1950s.
The woodlands subsequently passed into private ownership and some have been converted back to deciduous, with beech and
oak being the predominant species.
The walkers and others then gathered at Bailey Green for the tree-planting ceremony. They watched and helped the local children plant the Diamond Jubilee oak tree. The National Anthem was sung by all, accompanied by Hazel Wedlake on the accordion.
Andy Birnie, a professional hedge layer, talked about his work. He had completed over half a mile of hedge laying alongside the lane adjoining Bailey Green and was currently working on the hedge directly adjacent to where the tree was being planted. Then everyone went off to the village hall for a light lunch featuring a selection of home-made soups.
Children from the six houses that make up the hamlet of Bailey Green helped plant the tree, digging the hole the previous weekend and then planting the tree along with some bulbs around the base of the existing trees. Children from the Montessori Nursery which has, for the last 20 years, been situated in Privett village hall planted some bulbs around the new tree the following week, assisted by their teachers and parents.
Wandsworth English Oak
An English oak tree was planted to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee year, which was donated to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Women and girls from the group gathered on Tooting Bec Common to plant the commemorative tree.
Councillor Nicola Nardelli, deputy mayor of Wandsworth, and Pauline
Buchanan-Black, Director General of the Tree Council, took part in the event.
Nasira Rehman, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women's Association UK, and missionary Inam Naseem Bajway also attended the ceremony.
About 150 girls sang a Jubilee song, while some read out letters they had written to the Queen.
The young women of the community planted a further three wild cherry trees along with the diamond oak, which they raised funds for.
Buckton Vale Whitebeam
The pupils of Buckton Vale Primary School chose a whitebeam (Sorbus aria ‘Lutescens’) as it will “create lovely dappled shade over an area where our teachers sit at lunchtime in the warmer months and where our parents sit to watch sports events”. The leaves are a lovely silvery-green colour, and there are beautiful creamy white flowers in April/May which are perfect for bees.
We planted our tree at the beginning of National Tree week 2013 with the help of local councillor Jan Jackson. Children from our nursery class were helped to plant the tree by Mrs Hunter and Mrs Thompson, our Forest School practitioners, who had organised lots of activities for the whole week. The whole school was outside during the course of the rest of this week planting trees and bulbs, and creating woodland art. Every child at school planted their own tree, creating a new woodland area for our Forest School.
Fernhurst Copper Beech
Fernhurst Parish Council first started planning our Jubilee Celebrations early in 2012. A Jubilee Village Party was planned for June and we also wanted to plant a tree to commemorate the occasion. There was much discussion on the type of tree. As the oak is very common in West Sussex, a
copper beech was decided upon. The date of planting was set for November 30th during National Tree Week. Fernhurst Primary School enthusiastically agreed to take part and all classes participated in activities related to trees during that week.
The ceremony began at 2pm on the Village Green and was introduced by James Cottam, Chairman of the Parish Council. Julie Bolton, Trees and Woodland Officer for West Sussex, gave a short talk about the importance of trees, especially for the children. There were 24 children from the Reception Class and 2 representatives from each of the other classes. The children read out their poems and talked about trees with their teachers. Then they each helped Robin Barnes, the Tree Warden to fill in the hole and plant the tree. We were lucky: the sun shone and about 60 people attended
the ceremony including district and county councillors, Alan Hayes, Deputy Lieutenant of Sussex, parish councillors, the Headmaster of Fernhurst Primary School and other teachers, parents, parishioners and members of the press.
Robin Barnes, Tree Warden is helped by a Fernhurst Primary School pupil
Robin Barnes, Tree Warden is helped by a Fernhurst Primary School pupil
Afterwards tea and biscuits were served to everyone in the Sports Pavilion.
The PTA made splendid biscuits shaped and iced like beech leaves.
The tree now has chestnut fencing around it as a safeguard whilst it is
Blossom as white as snow and as pink as strawberries
Leaves are as crunchy as screwed up paper,
Leaves as brown as chocolate,
Leaves as red as fire,
Leaves as green as grass,
Leaves, crunchy, brown, red, green.
Blossom as white as snow and as pink as strawberries
Sticks like pencils,
Sticks like the fingers of trees, Sticks dancing in the wind, Sticks light brown, the colour of mud, Sticks, like pencils, fingers, dancing, light brown.
Blossom as white as snow and as pink as strawberries
Trees as tall as towers,
Trees smell like freshly cut grass,
Trees as rough as sandpaper,
Trees as old as Christmas,
Trees tall, fresh, rough, old.
Blossom as white as snow and as pink as strawberries
By Holly Church
Fernhurst Village Green before the tree is planted
Children reading out their tree poem
A few of the people who came to the
Colemere Ginkgo Biloba
Do dinosaurs still roam the Earth?
It would be easy to think so, here in our mysterious glacial landscape of meres and mosses in the county of Shropshire! Shrouded in myth and legend, set between two villages to serve them both, the rural parish of St John the Evangelist Church, Lyneal cum Colemere, has its roots firmly in ancient history. The present church is Victorian, a pale sandstone building of elegant simplicity, with a churchyard and woodland attached. It is set on a rise amongst farmland, overlooking the Colemere mere and Country Park.
We are set in the past, but definitely
not stuck in the past! Not all the people in our community attend church; but we are a community that comes together regularly for social events, whether village or church led. In rural Shropshire, we still, to a degree, make our own entertainment! At Colemere church we have made a commitment to this environment; we manage the church grounds sympathetically for wildlife, and we have created an area of woodland for everyone to enjoy. In a time of increased environmental awareness, when the local community has also pledged itself to the conservation, development and protection of our local wildlife, we are here as an open church, leading by example. So there was great excitement in the whole community when it was announced that we had been honoured with a Jubilee Diamond Tree, to be planted in the churchyard, overlooking the mere. A tree that will be a symbol of our whole community’s caring commitment to the beautiful landscape that is our home - and a brilliant and lasting way to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.
In the cold, dark days of February 2013, we began to plan our ceremony as a Family Fun Day for all the community. We chose our tree and set the event date for 23rd March. We came together regularly for planning meetings, and began to publicise our event in local schools, to community groups and through the media of local press and radio. Our friends at Shropshire Wildlife Meres and Mosses Landscape Partnership offered to run outdoor activities; the local Scout leader offered the help of the Cubs; the church community planned the indoor activities,
the refreshments and a Wildlife Trail around the church buildings and grounds. Other individuals, community groups and the Parish Council all offered help in different areas. A number of VIP’s were invited to attend our planting ceremony and their acceptances showed great enthusiasm and support for our event.
We were all set up and ready; the church grounds were immaculate, the activities were prepared, the hole was ready for the waiting tree, the cakes were baked –and it began to snow! And snow, and snow, and snow! By the morning of the 23rd, the snow was 8” deep and still falling. The radio told us that it was the worst March snowfall for 30 years, and the coldest March for 50 years; what it meant for us was that Lyneal
and Colemere were cut off, our special guests were unable to be with us, and the Fun Day had to be cancelled. We felt that we were back in the ice age!
A few of us managed to struggle down to church that afternoon, in stillfalling snow, where we dug the snow away from the planting hole. Then with considerably less ceremony than originally planned, we planted our tree, gave a couple of speeches, took some pictures and warmed up with mulled wine and cake in church! The Family Fun Day will now be held, in belated celebration, in June.
So as we look forward to the future, and watching our tree grow, we know that ours is a community that is always ready to come together to celebrate or commiserate, and is eager to help. We are forward-thinking in our readiness to embrace the challenges of the next sixty years and we are determined to encourage the next generation in community service. The children who saw the tree planted, and those who will take part in our celebratory fun day and learn the importance of the tree, will own the next
part of this story!
And what tree did we plant? A dinosaur of course! A beautiful Ginkgo Biloba tree; an ancient monster of a tree, that existed in the carboniferous forests at the time of the dinosaurs, and survived the ice age which created our landscape here in Lyneal and Colemere. This unique tree, with no other living relatives in the tree world, is as special and beautiful as the place where it now lives and stands for our pledge to improve, develop, conserve, and protect all that is important to us and to our visitors. It is our living legend, with its roots in the past, its branches reaching out to the future and its very existence reminding us of our duty to the present. A dinosaur lives again in Colemere!
Houghton On The Hill Sequoia
In spite of cold winds and rain on Thursday afternoon 23 May 2013, the village of Houghton On The Hill and its Tree Warden, Francesca Wall-Bray, welcomed the Lord Lieutenant Lady Gretton and the
newly elected Chairman of Harborough District Council, Geraldine Robinson and her husband Dave Robinson.
The occasion was the final tree planting in the village’s 2012–2013 MAKE HISTORY Diamond Jubilee and Olympic Tree Project, involving the planting of more than 60 trees over the last sixteen months.
Also attending the event were Pete Kenyon, Leicestershire County Council, John Parrot, Harborough District Council and Andy Jackson, LCC Tree Warden Coordinator, all of whom have over the last few years, advised, assisted and supported
the Houghton Tree Warden on various tree-planting schemes in the village. On hand to help plant this latest tree: School Head, staff and older children from
Houghton On The Hill Church of England Primary School. (Earlier the same morning at the school, the Tree Warden, School Head, Staff and parents of younger children planted the school’s commemorative tree for the MAKE HISTORY tree project, a Sequoia.)
Afterwards Lady Gretton and HDC Chairman Geraldine Robinson attended the bring and share ‘Jubilee Tree Tea Party’ in the village Methodist Chapel, organised by supporters of the MAKE HISTORY tree project. Lashings of tea and a variety of cakes and sandwiches were served, capping a day enjoyed by all.
The Houghton On The Hill Tree Warden and Tree Planting / Maintenance volunteers were awarded one of the Lord Lieutenant’s Diamond Jubilee Awards for Leicestershire and Rutland last year and have been nominated for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award for Volunteer Groups this year.
Haslingfield English Oak
Haslingfield is a village of about 1,600 people located five miles south west of Cambridge. Today the village has a primary school, two churches, two shops and a pub. The village sign depicts a visit made to Haslingfield by Queen Elizabeth I in 1570 when she came to stay at the manor.
One of the celebrations that took place in Haslingfield in to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 was a tea party held for diners and helpers of the village
Luncheon Club. The Club was started in the mid-2000s to cook lunch, once a month, for older village residents. Before the tea party one of the committee, Christine Kipping, arranged for everyone’s recollections of the Coronation to be recorded and she published them in a booklet.
It was these Coronation Memories which inspired the planning of a planting event for Haslingfield’s Jubilee Diamond Tree. The planting could be a wonderful opportunity for the older generation to share their first hand memories of the Coronation, and life 60 years ago with local children.
The village school, Haslingfield Endowed Primary School, greeted the suggestion enthusiastically. Mr McLeod, the Headteacher, proposed that the School Council – two children representing each of the six classes – should be involved, and that they could tell their classes all about it. The children were given extracts of the Coronation Memories and, with the help of
teaching assistant, Ellie Houghton, they prepared questions for the Luncheon Club members.
A wonderful session resulted. Fuelled by chocolate cake, the children were fascinated by how different life was within living memory (“You didn’t have a television?!”), and the older generation enjoyed sharing their recollections.
After heavy rain the night before, the morning had started grey, cool, and overcast. But as everyone gathered in the Wellhouse Meadow, the sun broke through the clouds. The only sadness on the day was that Tree Warden, Sam Bowden, was unable to be there, however Tom Nash, a landscape gardener living in the village, had
very kindly prepared the planting site by removing the large stump of elder and digging the hole. Knowing the local heavy clay soil, this saved several hours of backbreaking work.
The Parish Council had agreed that Mrs Margaret Long should be asked to officially plant the tree, in recognition of the 36 years which she had served as a parish councillor until May 2012. Whilst this falls short of Her Majesty’s 60 years of service, it is still a remarkable contribution. Mrs Long played an important part in helping establish the village Warden Scheme which helps care for older residents. It was one of the first such schemes in the country. She was also a member of the Parish Council when it took action to save the Wellhouse Meadow for the village.
Mrs Long was assisted in the planting by the two youngest members of the School Council, Hannah Farrell and Joseph Tudor, representing a new generation of villagers. The tree is an
English Oak which we hope, in time, will create an impressive focal point for the Meadow.
We hope that in another 60 years today’s pupils will be able to bring their grandchildren to the Wellhouse Meadow to show them the Diamond Jubilee Oak and tell them about the day it was planted.
West End Women & Girls Centre is situated at the top of Elswick Park in Newcastle. Women and girls groups at the
West End Women s And Girl s Centre Sweet Chestnut
centre run a community garden in the park where they grow organic fruit, vegetables and flowers in. In March 2013 members of the Grow It group (girls aged 8 to 18) met with Pat, an older member and volunteer who used to live in the area, to find out what the park used to be like when she was young 60 years ago.
Pat showed the girls some old photos and then took them on a tour of the park and told stories of the olden days. The girls learnt that the community garden used to be a bowling green and that there used to be seats where the Jubilee tree is to be planted. There also used to be a lake at the bottom of the park where children would paddle, this is now grassed over and the girls wished it was still there!
The girls and Pat talked about how much the park has changed and also how
the Jubilee tree for the Queen was a great link with the visit we had in October 2012 from the Duchess of Cambridge when she visited the park and community garden as part of the Jubilee year celebrations. The girls were very excited to meet her and proud to show what they had grown in the garden. They also presented her with some
home-made jam and chutney they had made.
On March 16th 2013 we planted a Sweet Chestnut tree for the Queen’s Jubilee.
Lots of volunteers, young and old helped to dig a hole and plant the tree on the day and we are all looking forward to cooking and eating the chestnuts soon!
Trees are useful
Really really useful
Everyone grows them
Everyone likes them
So why don’t you try to use trees as well!’
‘I liked it when we stamped on the mud.
Trees can sway about when it’s cold and crash at you!
Trees can be nice’
‘I like leaves on the trees because they fly high in the sky’
‘Tree planting is fun
Working in the sun
Apples are yum
Ridgewell English Oak
The Ridgewell of 1953 was, in many ways, a very different place from the village we know today. There was a great desire to celebrate a royal occasion in style and, then as now, the planning started early and effectively. It was on the 1st of October 1952 that a Parish Meeting was held in the schoolroom (now St Lawrence Lodge East) to set things in motion. Suggestions were made for the raising of funds, including a house-to-house
collection, whist drives, collection boxes in the village shops, a concert by the children and a competition. Other fund-raising events included a jumble sale (held in the Congregational Chapel schoolroom) which was so well attended that not all of the prospective buyers were able to enter the sale room when it opened. There was a New Year’s Eve Social which was very popular with the young people and a radiogram was borrowed both to provide music and so that the revellers could hear the New Year chimes being broadcast. It has now become a custom in Ridgewell to ‘ring’ the New Year in by congregating on the Village Green using ‘hand bells’. We are also very lucky, again due to very generous Villagers and fund-raising events to have our St Laurence Church bells back in situ and these too can be heard ‘ringing’ in the
New Year!
Alan Pick, who was just 8 and lived in the village remembers, “My mother watched the ceremony on the black and white television and we had many ladies in the house as we were the only ones to own a TV. He also remembers, “His Father placing flags on the car which would fly away as soon as we went over 35mph!” His Mother also bought a miniature version of the Coach and Horses the Queen rode in during the Coronation as a memento and that it sat on
the mantel piece for many years to come.
Now it is 2013 and we celebrate 60 glorious years of HM The Queen’s reign by planting an Oak tree on our Village Green. This sits proudly alongside other commemorative Horse Chestnut trees that were planted for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, a wooden seat for King George V’s Silver Jubilee and two Oak trees planted in 2012, also to mark the Jubilee.
On Wednesday 24 April at 1.30pm
parish councillors, Reverend Michael Hewitt, Head Teacher Denise Madden, class teacher Nicky Sharp and children from Ridgewell Primary School and villagers met on the village green to witness the tree planting. While the sun shone Parish Council Chairman, Nick Rouse, welcomed everyone and spoke of the way in which previous Royal Jubilees have been marked. Poems were read by the children followed by a blessing by Reverend Hewitt.
Photos were taken by the local press and children and villagers given the opportunity to place soil around the tree.
Amongst the many villagers present was Joy Dunn, who proudly brought along her Coronation mug given to her by the Parish when she was 11 years old.
Directly afterwards, a small celebration was held in the Congregational
Chapel, with tea, cakes, biscuits and squash for the children. A running slide show and music from 1953 were played and there was a wonderful photographic display provided by the Ridgewell History Society of village life in Ridgewell.
Our thanks go to the Ridgewell History Society and the Ridgewell Jubilee Committee for detailed accounts of the Coronation.
Upton Scudamore Hornbeam
On a very wet New Year’s Eve, more than 50 people turned out to help plant a Hornbeam tree near St Mary’s Church in the tiny village of Upton Scudamore in Wiltshire. The village has a long and continuous history of good husbandry of trees, support for the Royal Family in the Parish, and the community spirit this has helped to sustain.
The tree planting ceremony was led by Mrs Freda Akers and Mr Mike Shergold, who are the oldest and longest
serving members of our community. Many family groups, couples and individuals joined in, along with members of the Parish Council. The children in particular enjoyed the ginger-bread trees Sue Mack had baked especially for the occasion –and jumping in the puddles! We also
received messages of support from people not able to join in on the day, and at least 10 more people went along on the days that followed to play their part.
Huge thanks to the Parish Council, neighbouring landowner Keith Dowley, the preparation gang of Alan Beswick, Brian Etherington, and Alan Merrills, to Ken Welch for the photographs, and to everyone who turned up and made a most enjoyable and memorable village occasion.
South Lakes Federation Red Oak
For once the weather was kind to us and our intrepid Diamond Jubilee Tree planters had almost perfect conditions to perform their task. Having chosen a suitable site for the Red Oak tree on top of a hill but close enough to the nearby lane for passers-by to enjoy,
each one took it in turns to help dig out a sufficiently large hole to hold the large root ball. This proved to be the most challenging part of the task as a number of underlying rocks attempted to thwart our first choice of site, however true British grit and determination that Her Majesty would surely have been proud of, ensured that Her tree would be planted where we wanted it to be planted.
It proved to be a brilliant example of teamwork and each planter had his specific task to complete but also supported others with their tasks. Although the young people had planted other transplants previously, none had planted such a tall tree and there was a feeling of fulfilment once the tree was securely staked and the final shovel full of soil was put in place. Comments like “I’ll have to bring my kids and my grandchildren to see this tree” were heard – a satisfying moment for the planters and hopefully in the future it will be a time for the next few generations to marvel at what one of their “ancestors” helped to achieve, and also to remember the great lady, Her Majesty The Queen.
It was also quite magical that in the very week they were learning tree planting skills and planting this special commemorative tree, that many other young people across the country were engaged in similar projects within their own localities.
Wraysbury Persian Ironwood
Wraysbury has a rich and ancient history being the hunting grounds of Saxon kings. The Domesday Book records that Wraysbury, then spelt Wirecesberie, had 2 mills and 4 fisheries. The population then was 39 including 7 slaves.
In 1313 Wraysbury, administered as a Royal Manor, was given to Queen Isabella by Edward II and then assigned in Dower to the Queens of England under Edward III, Richard II and Henry IV.
In 1465 the Manor of Wraysbury was
settled on Elizabeth, The Queen of Edward IV for her life and later in Dower to Elizabeth, Queen of Henry VII. It was also assigned in Dower to Catherine of Aragon and later to Jane Seymour by Henry VIII, and there is a story that Henry VIII wooed Anne Boleyn under the Ankerwycke Yew which stands in the grounds of Ankerwycke Priory and which has been suggested as the site of the sealing of the Magna Carta by King John, as it was thought to be safe from possible attack by soldiers on the opposite bank at
Runnymede.
We have a warm relationship with Prince Philip who commissioned Wraysbury Community Centre as the new 1st Wraysbury Scout and Guide Headquarters and Queen Elizabeth who opened our Village Hall on 18 October 1974 when she stopped off at Wraysbury during her rain-soaked river tour of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead when she met
Tree Wardens William Perez and Diana Hughes.
representatives of the Parishes.
We were honoured to be given a tree to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee and local Tree Wardens invited Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Guides, Brownies and Rainbows to help plant the beautiful Parrotia persica “Vanessa”. Every child present took so much care and pride in the actual planting that it will most certainly flourish and be something to remind them of the magical and moving Diamond Jubilee year.
After the wet weather on the Saturday, Sunday dawned bright and cheerful, much to the relief of the Scout and Guide Leaders, and we only had a light shower at the end of the ceremony in the
presence of our local Mayor Colin Rayner, parish councillors, friends and relatives. What a fantastic and happy afternoon we spent. The general feeling was “Well done. It was a lovely event”.
During the scrumptious tea that was prepared by the Guides, I was handed a clever little poem by Macey Foster-Currie with a little drawing of a huge tree with two children and it went
My Tree Poem. Trees are tall, Reach for the sky, Everybody needs them, Everybody should love them”.
The names of the Leaders are as follows: Pam Morris-Hunt (Beavers), Barbara Hearne & Lucy Foster (Cubs), Paul West (Scouts) Andy Bouch (Group Scout Leader, not forgetting Nicky Bouch who helped organise the event), Giovanna Cochrane & Sarah Cooke (Guides/ Brownies/Rainbows).
Chichester Small leafed Lime
A Chichester park is now home to a Jubilee Diamond Tree which was planted during a special event in Florence Park on Tuesday April 16th. The Friends of Florence Park were joined by residents and Portfield Primary Academy pupils for the planting.
In the week before the Easter holidays the children researched the properties and significance of the chosen Lime tree (Tilia cordata). They also used
their communication skills in writing letters and linking with relatives and local senior citizens to discover details of the Queen’s coronation sixty years ago.
Residents in two local sheltered housing associations were invited to join the children in Florence Park for the tree planting event, due to take place the week after Easter. The children were very busy with their holiday projects and enthusiastic responses to invitations to join in the special occasion were gathered by Geoff King of the local tree warden group.
The planting day arrived and the weather was cool with overcast skies and rather similar to the day of the Queen’s Coronation sixty years ago on June 2nd 1953. With the help of the Chichester District Council’s park team, a covered display was constructed under
which the children’s work was mounted for all the assembled group to view and comment upon. The Friends of Florence Park provided warm drinks which helped to ease conversation and to make the occasion so enjoyable.
Geoff King, chairman of the tree wardens group and a founding member of the Friends of Florence Park, said: “I am over the moon. It has been a great pleasure and really special. It is about bringing people out into the community to
remember 60 years ago.”
“I thought it is Florence Park’s turn. We are losing so many of our city’s trees. This is important, the more trees we can get in the better,” said Mr King.
Geoff acknowledged the support of the Tree Council, the West Sussex and
Chichester Tree Wardens and he thanked Chichester’s Mayor Her Worship Councillor Scicluna and her City and District East Ward Councillor colleagues. Our parish vicar Father Stuart Craddock blessed the Lime tree and with the help of the park’s gardeners toddlers, children and teachers,
parents and friends and also a great grand parent, Community Wardens, Community Support Police Officer, and passers by all used the ceremonial spade for safely planting the tree.
To complete the event there was an interview with local radio Spirit FM and photographs were taken for the District Council to submit to the Chichester Observer, our local newspaper. All who attended agreed that it had been a great event which some will remember in sixty years time.
The Mayor of Chichester Ann Scicluna and Geoff King, tree warden.
St Madoc Centre Medlar
We chose a Medlar tree, which is an interesting tree and will sit well amongst our other old variety apple and pear trees.
Children from our EcoTribe programme were involved in the initial clearing the area, and whilst the heavy preparation wasn’t in the end suitable for them, other local young people, in the form of the Duke of Edinburgh lads did do that work. The EcoTribe children attend with parents/responsible adults,
and range in age from toddlers through to 16 plus.
Unfortunately planting day was cold and wet and so only 12 EcoTribe members braved the conditions, however, the children did show enthusiasm for the task in hand and were happy to help with final clearance of the area around the pre dug hole, to help lift the tree in to position and to help back fill afterwards. The task did provoke some comment from the children: ‘What is a medlar tree? I’ve never heard of one of those’. ‘Does it have fruit you can eat?’ So we were able to explain the tree, the fruit and the interesting way that it becomes palatable only after rotting slightly, unlike all the other fruit trees we have on site. One child was heard to say ‘stomping the earth was my favourite bit’.
The Medlar tree has thrived and we were able to take nearly 30 different school parties, numbering in excess of 1000 along to see it as part of our regular excursions
through our wooded area. We talk about the age of the trees and encourage the children to think about the relative sizes, ages and shapes of the various trees in the woods.
The children have made crowns and have gathered twigs and branches for various other activities. We have undertaken our usual bush craft activities, and the children have been introduced to the Medlar.
It is our intention to add pictures and the Medlar story to our website, and we hope to be able to monitor its progress over the years, and visiting children can update our records. It will be an on-going project, and we will continue to utilise it with groups of visiting children. We have purchased some Medlar jam, as our own fruits this year won’t be enough to do much with, so we do hope that we will be able to encourage children and young people and indeed their parents and carers, to have a taste before the tree starts flowering and fruiting again in the Spring.
The tree is in a prominent position adjacent to the car park, all our staff, volunteers and visiting groups will pass it. We were delighted to note that in its first year with us it has produced some fruit –albeit small – and this provoked some interesting comments from a couple of children ‘Wow , the fruit is really weird’.
Ringland Wood and Wildlife Conservation English Oak
An English Oak Tree tree was planted in our local primary school on 7th December 2012. Those taking part in the planting ceremony included the Mayor of Newport Mr John Guy aided by our junior group (The Ringland Rangers) and the Green Team from Newport City Council. Also in attendance were Jessica Morden MP, Councillor Emma
Corten and police officers from Always police station. Also all the teachers and pupils from the school donned their wellingtons to watch the tree being planted.
Ringland Primary School was chosen as the most appropriate home for the tree
as they have an excellent eco project and also work closely with the Wood Group to educate the children from the community on the importance of conservation and taking a more active role in caring for their local environment.
Councillor John Guy Mayor of Newport
Emma Corten (Ward Councillor For Ringland)
Lisa Bowden (Head Teacher), Lauren Janssen (Junior Group), Councillor John Guy, and Virginia Brown.
Our Queens Tree
In a Welsh City, In a school up on a hill, The children there are waiting for The arrival of something new As excitement grows in the air, It’s not Santa they hope to see, But an extra special gift this year, From the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee
This gift it is an Oak Tree So mighty, tall and strong, To grow beside these children And all the children in years to come.
A Poem By Max Brown
Back Row-Jodie Webb, Lisa Bowden, Councillor John Guy, Katie Godfrey, Jessica Morden, Pat
O’Neil, Michael McCarthy, Virginia Brown, Keith Brown , Gemma Brown, Front Row-{Junior Group Members: The Ringland Rangers and Pupils at the School-Casey Kelly, Max Brown, Jack Christopher, Lauren Janssen and Sheila Andrews.
Whitchurch Bramley
Whitchurch School planted its Jubilee tree on Friday 17th May during a Rogation service led the Reverent Penny Powdrill. The service started with a brief introduction about how and why we had received the tree from the Tree Council. Then the Rev Penny led the congregation of pupils, parents and community members
into the school grounds. With the sun shining down on us Rev Penny blessed the school grounds and the tree to be planted. Mrs Wendy Jarrett, who had been asked to plant the tree, was rewarded with a large cheer and round of applause when the planting was complete. Mrs Jarrett was asked to officially plant the tree as one of three original members of the 1977
Isabelle Marshall giving a reading and saying a prayer composed to celebrate the occasion
Rev Penny Powdrill leading the congregation
Jubilee Committee who had raised funds and built a much needed children’s playground in the village. Mrs Jarrett said she was honoured to be asked to plant the tree and was pleased that the local community and school continue to mark these historic milestones.
After the ceremony, a cream tea was served by the children in the school grounds.
Mrs Wendy Jarrett receiving a blessing before planting the tree.
Poppy and Izzy complete the planting.
The two Year 5 classes are currently studying a topic called Talking Heads which focuses on the legacies of British monarchs and this opportunity to plant a Jubilee Tree brought a present day link to the project.
The local tree wardens and a volunteer wildlife enthusiast suggested that a common walnut tree (Juglans regia) would provide a focal point for the local community as well as interest for the children of Stanford for years to come.
Stanford Walnut
To introduce the project to the classes we used a washing line and pegs to make a time line of a few significant dates from the last hundred years. We put in the World War I and II, the approximate dates of the building of the houses in the area (1920s to 1930s), the coronation of Queen Elizabeth and the building of Stanford School in the 1970s.
We pored over maps to compare the
area around the school over the last hundred years. In 1913 only fields and a few boundaries were marked in the area, whereas maps of the 1950s show the local
houses that had been built in the 1920s and 1930s.
We also studied various photographic documents of the area over time. The children were surprised to see pictures of the streets they knew well, soon after the houses had been built, showing unmade roads. We also looked at adverts from newspapers of the 1950s and the price of toys and the style of televisions with their 9inch screens engendered much discussion.
We interviewed a local resident who has lived in the area for many years; she told us how the way of life has changed. We discussed the way children spend their spare time today with electronic games and television, although many of the children also claimed to spend much time reading books.
We planted the tree in the morning on Friday 6th of December, the weather was kind to us, cold but sunny. A member of the Borough Tree department came to help with the planting and told us about the tree and showed the children photos of the leaves and flowers and a mature walnut tree. We handed round some walnuts in their shells and peeled walnuts to make sure the children knew as much as possible about the tree they were planting.
The class have also made a time capsule which was placed a few metres
from the walnut tree, to be retrieved at a date in the future, when the tree and the children have all matured.
The children, staff, visitors and volunteers all worked hard on this enjoyable project and we thank the Tree Council for giving us the opportunity of celebrating Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee in this way.
ElmsWild is a volunteer conservation group based in Elmswell, Suffolk. Our group was founded ten years ago and in 2009 ElmsWild was one of the lucky winners of the People’s Millions competition, enabling us to buy 4 acres of land for our woodland.
Tree planting began in 2010 with help from the Tree Council and with the whole community lending a hand. Now throughout the year there is always something going on – Apple Day, picnics and barbecues, educational activities for children, campfires with Scouts and Guides, and regular work parties to improve habitats for wildlife.
We named our plot Lukeswood, after the Reverend Luke, Rector of Elmswell in the 1860s – a dynamic Victorian who built the rectory which still overlooks the woodland, and instigated a new building to house the growing village school.
In 2013 we succeeded in buying a further 2.5 acres of adjoining land with the
Elmswild Medlar
help of a generous donation from a local resident, whose last wish was to secure this amenity for Elmswell. We have named it in his honour – Norman's Orchard. Here we are beginning to establish a community orchard, planted along traditional lines to provide a source of local food, conserve local varieties of fruit tree, and provide new habitats for wildlife.
We decided that our Diamond Jubilee tree should be planted in the new orchard – what a wonderful way to start this new venture! As for the tree itself, we chose to plant a Medlar, an unusual tree that was important in medieval times but is now quite rare in gardens and orchards.
We have always worked closely with our local primary school to help give our children hands-on experience of nature, so we asked the children in Eagle and Hawk classes of Year 5 to help us with the project. They started by writing a letter to the Queen telling her all about our new Medlar tree – and were thrilled to bits to get a reply from Buckingham Palace! The
children have also been finding out about the history of the Medlar and looking at its unusual fruits.
Much to their delight, the children discovered that the medieval nickname for the Medlar was Dog's Bottom Tree, but this didn't put them off handling the fruit. We even had a go at tasting it! The children decided to make their own medlar jelly. Everyone took turns in the cooking, from washing and cutting up the fruit to finally filling up the jars. It tasted delicious!
The children came to Lukeswood with teachers and helpers on a lovely sunny day during National Tree Week. Together with members of ElmsWild and other volunteers we planted the Medlar and it now takes pride of place right in the centre of the orchard. Later in the week the children made a presentation to the rest of the school to tell them all about our project. It has been a great learning experience for everyone, and great fun, too. Their enthusiasm has sparked off a lot of interest in the rest of the village –everyone is talking about the Medlar tree we have planted for the Queen.
The children of Elmswell Primary School are veteran tree planters. When we first started our community woodland, ElmsWild made a pledge to plant 1683 trees – one for every house in the village.
The children have helped us fulfil that pledge, and even surpass it. They are frequent and enthusiastic visitors to Lukeswood, planting, mulching and
helping to look after the trees. So we're confident that our special Diamond Jubilee tree will thrive and become a landmark in Elmswell for many years to come – it's in very good hands.
Patchway is a town of 12,000 population in South Gloucestershire, on the north fringe of Bristol. We celebrated our diamond jubilee in 2013 as the Parish Council of Patchway was created in 1953, the same year as the Coronation of the Queen. Before this, Patchway was a Ward of the Parish of Almondsbury. Although Patchway was a scattered farming community from time immemorial, the housing which we see today only commenced just before the War to provide for aircraft workers at the Bristol Aeroplane Company at nearby Filton (now Rolls-Royce and Airbus). This building continued after the War and the population grew. Patchway is now surrounded by business parks and an out-of-town shopping centre as well as new housing on the recently closed Filton Airfield.
Patchway English Oak
community. This was named Norman Scott Park after the first Chairman of the Council and in 2013 the Council applied to register this land as a Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Field.
During the past few years, South Gloucestershire Council applied for funding from two government funds: Playbuilders and Aiming High to improve play areas in various areas, including Norman Scott Park
Luckily, in the 1950s, Patchway Parish Council (now Patchway Town Council) acquired two fields from the local farmer and has developed these into playing fields and a park which is the heart of the
Some of the children enjoying the accessible roundabout.
in Patchway. The Playbuilders funding enabled us to replace items of worn out play equipment to provide stimulating play for children over eight years old. The Aiming High funding enabled the area to be made suitable for those with mobility difficulties and also to add landscaping and environmental improvements including a
sensory garden, ramps and a seating platform which can be accessed by wheelchairs. The design of the landscaping and choice of play equipment involved working with a group of parents of children with disabilities, the South
Gloucestershire Parents and Carers Network.
The Aiming High funding also enabled us to create a toilet with a ramp, hoist and other features suitable for severely disabled people to use so that the play facilities can be enjoyed by all members of the community.
Councillor Boulton also unveiled the plaque dedicating the park as Queen Elizabeth II Field and is seen here (photo bottom left) surrounded by local town councillors and the Committee of Patchway Sports and Social Club, which is sited in the Park and which provided refreshments for all those who attended the ceremony.
After the planting and unveiling ceremonies, there was a workshop of activities for children and young people in the park where they could make masks, hat and banners from leaves and twigs.
Plaque dedicating the park as Queen Elizabeth II Field
Councillor Boulton unveiling the plaque
Little Hill Downey Birch
Application for a TC tree made during February
John Stokes ‘saving us a tree’ from the sixty for the Jubilee;
5th March to Little Hill the application form to fill
Met to Plan - Maggie & Kate - April 25th -
getting late
To plant a tree - which one? Ask Classes 4 & 3!
What’s the goal and the children’s role?
And is it OK with the authority to go ahead and plant a tree?
Another meeting June 3rd - lots of ideas, then we heard:
The ‘Go Ahead’ given and poems would be written;
It’s getting exciting and we’re all smitten!
After great search - it’s the Common White Birch, Betula Pubescens for certain!
In touch with Barcham’s Wes & JulieTo order our very own Downy Birch tree, For specialist advice on planting it And where in the school grounds it would best sit!
On July 2nd the tree was delivered, Carefully packed so it wouldn’t be withered.
Carl Swannell’s Transport huge green lorry
With helpful driver - so that was no worry!
Paperwork done, tree resting and waiting
For July 5th - the day of the planting.
The evening before, the hole was dug out, Stakes put in place and now there’s no doubt
The children are ready and spades are steady -
Little Hill Primary’s about to make history!
If the Queen had a dream for a wonderful scheme
As a gift for her Jubilee,
The answer would be to plant a treeNo, not one, but SIXTY!
She’d ask Little Hill to help her fulfil
This dream, to be part of the scheme
By planting their very own tree. What a gift for Her Majesty and for all
posterity
The tree’s there for all to see.
But better by far - for they are the star -
Of this wonderful notion which stirs great emotion:
The CHILDREN who helped and learned from this project -
The wonder of trees, which now they’ll help protect.
So thanks all of you - for dreams do come true
And we’re glad to have shared it with you!
Thorpe Lee Field Maple
At Thorpe Lea Primary School in Egham, on Thursday 12th December 2013, a group of 60 pupils of all ages plus staff gathered to plant a commemorative tree for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Despite boggy
School councillors and Green Ambassadors are joined by Mr Pope; site manager, Daniel Jenkins; Reception class teacher, Rita Pardi and Headteacher, Leslie Semper.
conditions, the Acer Campestre Queen Elizabeth tree was planted with due ceremony and excitement!
The children were accompanied by Mr Pope, a local tree warden; Head teacher, Leslie Semper; Deputy Head, Chris Haxell; caretaker Daniel Jenkins and Rita Pardi, the lead teacher for our Green Ambassadors.
The planting of the tree commemorates the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee but also supports the long term plan to develop the school outdoor learning environment. It very much demonstrates the school values of high expectations, respect, teamwork, diversity and nurturing care.
Leading up to the tree planting Thorpe Lea Primary celebrated the school values by designing special trees. The trees stood in our entrance through the year.
Our first tree was the “diversitree” and more recently we have celebrated our values of high expectations and respect.
With the help of volunteer students from Royal Holloway College the school has also developed a wildflower meadow.
Thorpe Lea Primary is set in an area called Egham Hythe (the word Hythe meaning landing place in Old English). The land was owned by Chertsey Abbey in Medieval times and Crown land
included the Royal Hythe Farm (where the local secondary school is now located). After the World War II much of the area was developed. The school stands within the locality previously known as Hythe Fields and so our tree and our wildflower meadow not only create an area to support nature, they link our school with the past. Our planting of the Diamond Jubilee tree will now be part of the history of Thorpe Lea Primary School.
So What Next?
With the tree planting we celebrate our value of nurturing care, and pupils,
led by our Green Ambassadors and gardening club, will look after the tree and use it as part of our outdoor learning environment.
Thorpe Lea Primary Gardening Club
Volunteers from Royal Holloway digging the ground for our wildflower meadow.
Sir John Talbot Technology College Cox Orange Pippin
Year nine students Lewis Jones, Lewis Wilson, Piers Heaver, David Jones, Oliver Wynne, Eddie Dale and Liam Thomas, were involved in planting a Cox Orange Pippin on Friday 15th November 2013 under the guidance of Sixth Form students James Metcalfe, Josh Edge, Nathan Szulc, Simon Dunsmore and Sam Boardman of Sir John Talbot Technology College.
The students first task was to identify a location for the tree in a position where students, staff, parents and the Community alike would be able to view and admire the tree for years to come. Following soil testing and consultation with Site Manager Mr Mike Armstrong, the students selected a shrub bed inside the main entrance to the school and on the approach to the school reception. It is entirely co-incidental that when the tree bears fruit, the headteacher will be able to reach out of his office window and pluck the first apple!
Next the students had to consider the species of tree to select. There followed a long debate as several students favoured a horse chestnut tree, which would produce conkers in the autumn term, however, this species of tree proved to be too large for the preferred location. The students then decided that they would like to plant a fruit tree. They researched several websites to ascertain facts about
Putting the final touches to the planting of the Jubilee Tree. From left to right: Mr. A. Gregory, Liam Thomas, James Metcalfe, David Jones, Eddie Dale, Lewis Jones (with spade), Piers Heaver, Simon Dunsmore, Lewis Wilson, Nathan Szulc, Oliver Wynne and Josh Edge.
fruit trees and concluded that the Cox’s Orange Pippin would be an idea size for the location, having the added attraction that the students would be able to pick and eat the apples once the tree bore fruit!
The students under the supervision of Director of Science Faculty Mr Gregory, ordered the tree from Barcham Trees. The 3.5 metre tree was then planted by the students and secured in place with stakes and rubber ties.
The students are now responsible for the general upkeep of the tree, which includes watering in dry weather and checking the tree for any deterioration in health, to ensure that immediate action can be taken to secure the long term future of the tree, for future generations to enjoy.
Mr Gregory said “the students have fully engaged in and managed the entire project, which has afforded them many positive learning opportunities.”
The students from year nine who selected the Jubilee Tree and helped to plant it at Sir John Talbot’s Technology College on Friday 15th November 2013. From left to right: Liam Thomas, Lewis Wilson, Piers Heaver, Lewis Jones, David Jones and Eddie Dale.
Luston Primary School Weeping Willow
We asked a willing parent to dig a large hole and everyone participated in the planting of this beautiful Weeping Willow, our special Diamond Jubilee Tree. It is exciting to wonder what the future holds for our new tree: One day a castle, the next a cave or an outdoor classroom…. the opportunities for outside fun are endless (once our tree has grown a bit!).
Lily Fisher read a beautiful poem: The Willow
Elongated branches
Lingering........poignant yet picturesque
Pointed little leaves so comely and lush
The breeze makes them dance
Quivering and shiver intricately entwined tree stalk
Robust and rugged is its centre
The gust makes it sway
As if it hears music distanced far away
Or...
sweetly whispering to stay and pray.
Hulland C of E Primary School Aspen
On Friday 29th November 2013 a special Aspen Populus Tremula tree was planted in the middle of the school’s new Woodland walk to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. This also coincided with the celebration of 150 years of the school. We were honoured that the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire; Colonel John Wilson OBE attended to plant the tree alongside our Head teacher Mrs Wendy Underwood.
Vice Lord Lieutenant Colonel John Wilson officially opening the woodland walk.
Mrs Underwood and Colonel John Wilson planting the Aspen.
The parish council felt that a special tree was needed as our Diamond Jubilee Tree, so after advice from our tree expert Mr John Killingbeck, we chose a Black Mulberry tree which was planted on the Green in Lund on the 29th November 2013 . The mulberry tree has royal associations dating back to Tudor times and has a spreading habit, becoming crooked and gnarled with time, thus making an architectural feature. Mulberry trees were introduced to Britain by the Romans and then, King James I, in an attempt to establish a silk industry in
Lund Black Mulberry
England, planted the first black mulberry garden in London, where Buckingham Palace now stands. Unfortunately silk worms prefer the leaves of the white mulberry tree, so a silk industry was never established.
Shakespeare is known to have planted mulberry trees in his garden and indeed mentions’ them in some of his plays.
Mr Hugh Helm who was awarded the chairman’s achievement award for tree planting around Lund, Chair of the parish council Jonathan Walker,
councillors, villagers and children from Lockington Primary School enthusiastically assisted with the tree planting ceremony on the Green.
The children danced round the mulberry tree and sang “here we go round the mulberry tree, the mulberry tree, the mulberry tree here we go round the mulberry tree on a cold and frosty morning. This is how we plant a tree plant a tree plant a tree, plant a tree this how we plant a tree on a cold Friday morning.”
Scorton Horse Chestnut
On 6th April 2013, Scorton Parish Council and 1st Brompton on Swale Scout Group planted a horse chestnut tree to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. This species was chosen to ensure a good supply of conkers for children of the village for years to come. 1st Brompton Scout Group kindly donated some daffodils which were planted around the base of the tree.
Councillors Harper, Threlfall, Robinson and Hall took part in the planting, along with Scout leader Lesley Gray and Scouts, Jacob and Joshua Dean, Harold and Arthur Raven and Archie Strafford.
Watling Lower School Wild Cherry
Everyone gathered together to watch Councillor John Chatterley, the Mayor of Dunstable, The Really Wild Club members and Vicky Duxbury from Groundworks plant the Jubilee Tree, a beautiful Wild Cherry Tree.
Our Hopes for the Jubilee Tree
Through the seasons we will see the leaves change from green, to bright yellow, to dark orange, to dark red, to brown. We will stand under the magical tree and see the light flickering through the leaves. In the summer we will lay under the tree and in winter we will see the tree move in the frosty wind.
The beautiful birds will eat the juicy berries. In the branches spiders will make white and sticky webs and we will watch caterpillars turn into butterflies. We will see the fluffy grey squirrels running up the tree trunk and the baby squirrels playing with each other in the branches. At night we might be lucky and see an owl waiting for its food, perhaps a white mouse.
All the creatures will love the tree and so will we.
Rowan Class
The
Leaves
The leaves were dancing, They played in laughter. They flew into the windy air, They floated and whirled.
The
Leaves
The leaves had a peaceful noise, As they started spinning round, twirling. The Alien on the moon saw them. Each looked like, A small flying saucer.
Riley Cassidy Year 2
The sun saw the leaves, Each looked like a small yellow bird.
Zara Jones Year 2
The
Leaves
The leaves were clapping, They played to the loud song. They flew excitedly, They floated and twisted And swayed.
The sun saw the leaves, Each looked like little children.
Ama Ranasinghe Year 2
The
Leaves
The leaves had a wonderful secret, To have a frolic.
They danced to the winds soft song, They flew and they zoomed, And they scampered.
The rain had seen the leaves dancing, Each looked like A small yellow bird.
The sun had also seen them dancing, The Leaves made a Warm quilt covering the ground.
Oak Slaney Year 2
Willow Class created their seasonal calendars by making printing blocks of trees. Printing with leaves.
Trees helped Willow Class learn and remember all about different triangles.
Wadebridge School English Oak
Wadebridge is a small, friendly town in north Cornwall, with a population of around 8000 people. It is famous for the Camel Trail which is an old railway line that is now a beautiful route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. One route heads towards the seaside town Padstow, another inland towards Bodmin Moor.
A small group of students aged between 11-14 were selected through an application process to help with the planting.
The species, Quercus robur (commonly known as the English Oak), was carefully selected for planting. It is a large deciduous tree with rugged branches and it will naturally live for a few centuries. This means it can be enjoyed by students for many years to come. The location for the tree was decided to be the front of the school so that students, staff, parents and visitors can
benefit from its beauty.
The students were very excited when the tree arrived on the 8th of December.
The days leading up to planting were wet and windy, but on the afternoon of the 11th of December the sun shone brightly through the clouds.
The group of students met at lunchtime and, with the help of the school’s groundsman and a teacher, the tree was planted. A photographer from the local newspaper The Cornish Guardian and some A-Level students came to photograph and record the event.
The team worked together to dig a large hole, which was lined with compost and fertilizer to help the tree grow. Together they carefully lifted the tree into the hole and shoveled soil around it. It was a great team effort and the students had a fabulous time. One commented: “I loved it! I loved getting muddy and digging up the ground because I had never done it before!”
Another stated: “It was great fun making friends in a different year group, all having a go and not minding if we got dirty!”
Many saw the importance of volunteering for the project. One said: “I did it because the tree will be here for ages so we can see it whenever we want, and to help make the world a better place as lots of trees are being cut down around the world”
The students will be responsible for monitoring the tree carefully for the rest of
the school year and for watering it in the summer months.
After the planting, the students
enjoyed a late lunch together before returning to afternoon lessons.
The names of the tree planting team are as follows: Lauryn Howard, Fleur Mitchell, Poppy Brown, Bella Randall, Jack Pompa, Phoebe Crawford, Lucy Tiplady, Brooke Gamon and Ben Trevais.
The team leaders were: Charlotte Bassett, Daniel Powell and Chris Wilson.
The village of Boxgrove in West Sussex lies on the edge of the South Downs National Park, some 4 miles to the North East of Chichester.
The village is proud of its long history and heritage. Indeed, archaeological excavations at a nearby
Boxgrove English Oak
human occupation of the British Isles. The site dates back approximately 500,000 years, and became internationally famous with the discovery of the human remains of Boxgrove Man (still considered to be Britain’s oldest inhabitant).
The planting of the tree also marked a fitting culmination to 2012, a year in which a large number of different activities and celebrations took place both within the village and across the local community generally.
More recently, in the early 12th Century, a Benedictine Priory and monastic community was established at Boxgrove. This flourished and became one of the largest and most significant ecclesiastic establishments in Southern England, until its sudden demise in the 1530s, when Henry VIII took it upon himself to dissolve the monasteries.
Thankfully, Boxgrove’s current relationship with the Monarchy is rather more cordial, and the village was very proud to be granted a tree with which to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.
In keeping with tradition, an English Oak (Quercus Robor) was chosen, and planted on 12th December 2012 by District Councillor Henry Potter, assisted by local Tree Warden and Parish Councillor, Tony Tynan.
The site chosen for the planting was at land to the back of Boxgrove Primary School, close to a local playing field and recreation area, so that the schoolchildren as well as local people generally can benefit from the tree, both now and in years to come. The tree will also provide a focal point for future school and community events. The school has also composed a poem to mark the event, and commemorate the planting.
Oak tree, there's no need to drop leaves.
I said, oak tree, go hang with the trees.
I said, oak tree, 'cause you grow from the ground, There's no need to be cut down.
Oak tree, you can live in the wood. I said, oak tree, when you're trying to grow.
You can stay there, with all the other trees, You can grow some orange leaves.
It is fun growing T.R.E.E
It is fun growing T.R.E.E
They have everything; for you trees to enjoy, You can hang out with all the trees ...
It is fun growing T.R.E.E
It is fun growing T.R.E.E
You can let yourself sway; in the gushing wind, You can do whatever you feel...
Oak tree, are you dropping you leaves?
I said, oak tree, you know you help me breath?
I said, oak tree, you cannot live without me. But you got to know this one thing!
It is fun growing T.R.E.E
It is fun growing T.R.E.E
They have everything; for you trees to enjoy, You can hang out with all the trees ...
It is fun growing T.R.E.E
It is fun growing T.R.E.E
You can get yourself sway; in the gushing wind, You can do whatever you feel ...
It is fun growing T.R.E.E
It is fun growing T.R.E.E
You can let yourself sway; in the gushing wind, Because everyone loves trees!
Bright Sparks Pre School Black Mulberry
Colwall is a vibrant village, of about 2,000 the Malvern Hills in Herefordshire. The village school is the heart of the community and there are organisations and societies to suit all ages and tastes. One place that brings the community together is Colwall Village Garden - a community orchard with allotment gardens, owned and managed by Colwall Orchard Group.
One of the facilities on the site is a play area where the local children can meet and play. A group of allotmenteers’ children, inspired by their Celtic topic at school, have formed the ‘Attaki’ tribe. Tribe members make their own shields and weapons to Celtic designs (no plastic allowed). They practice den building, stalking, archery, fighting and battle tactics, using our apple storage bins as their fort.
Colwall Village Garden is open to everyone in the village to use. It acts as a
focal point for growing organic fruit and vegetables, volunteering, learning about orchard management and holding celebratory events such as the Colwall Wassail. So, when the Tree Council awarded us a Jubilee Tree, in recognition of close collaboration between Colwall Orchard Group, Colwall CE Primary School, and Bright Sparks, the local pre-school, we chose to plant a Black Mulberry in the
Handbell Ringers play the national anthem
Gathering for the planting
Village Garden.
The day was bright and sunny, with our bunting fluttering in the breeze, as Lady Darnley, The Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, planted the tree. She praised the Orchard Group’s commitment to the future, planting their new orchard; gave a warm welcome to the new Head of Colwall CE Primary School; and a sincere vote of thanks, and wishes for a happy retirement,
to the Manager of Bright Sparks Pre-school, retiring after 33 years dedicated service.
After the Tree Planting, Colwall Handbell ringers rang ‘God Save the Queen’ and members of the Attaki tribe presented Lady Darnley with a framed commemorative certificate and some Colwall Orchard Apple juice.
This was a truly community-led event with supporting entertainment provided by the Colwall Rotary Club’s Mediaeval Onearm Bandit; Story telling with children’s author Julia Jarman; a children’s’ book stall provided by a local Book Co-operative; stick whittling with a local Landscape Architect; Craft activities with Pre-school Staff; refreshments in the Apple Packing Shed; ‘Name that Tree’ and Apple Variety quizzes around the Orchard and commemorative certificates provided by the Parish Council. The event was recorded for posterity by Colwall Village Society.
Lady Darnley plants the tree
Felicity Robinson whittling with the children
Villiers High School Malus katy
The tree was planted by students on the 14th February 2014. It is an apple variety Katy, it has red eating fruit in September so students should get to enjoy them. It was planted on the edge of the playing field as part of a larger project to enhance the school environment. The
environment. The tree planting kicked of this project which will run for the next year.
intention is for all students to do something positive for the school, projects included planting a fruit hedge, planting wild flowers, doing a litter pick, repainting a chill out space, planting a herb garden and volunteering to teach primary schoolchildren about the
Hove Park School Magnolia
Hove Park School is a large, successful, 11-18 secondary school based on two sites in Brighton and Hove. We value the environment and this motivated our gardening club to be part of The Diamond Jubilee Tree project and plant a magnolia tree in the grounds of the Lower School site. The students in the gardening club have worked hard to make sure that the magnolia continues to thrive through the occasionally erratic weather on the south coast! We are certain that it will grow into a beautiful tree and provide a shady place for students and staff to sit under on sunny days.
