Queen’s Green Canopy Campaign branches out in West Sussex with more trees planted
A nationwide community campaign to ‘Plant a Tree for The Jubilee’ is gathering pace in West Sussex at the start of the new year.
Pledges to plant at least 35,000 trees across the county have already been made by a range of groups and there are hopes that, by the end of 2022, 70,000 new trees could be in place to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
The aim of the Queen’s Green Canopy campaign is to thank The Queen for her exceptional service over 70 years on the throne and to be a key part of celebrations planned for this year. At the same time it will help promote the importance of tree planting and tree conservation to the environment.
All new trees can be added to a virtual map, covering the whole of the country, alongside 70 specially selected ancient trees and a dedicated network of 70 ancient woodlands across the UK. The campaign in West Sussex is supported by the Lord Lieutenant’s Queen’s Green Canopy Team of Deputy Lieutenants aiming to raise awareness of the Royal initiative.
Pledges to plant in the county include South Downs National Park Authority, with plans for 4,000 trees in a range of different sites in West Sussex, The National
Trust, which is aiming for 13,000 trees, Balcombe, Borde Hill, Goodwood, Leconfield and Wiston estates, which between them will add more than 20,000 trees. Several local councils are also stepping forward, including Arundel, Adur and Worthing, Chichester, Horsham and West Hoathly, as well as sports and golf clubs.
Trees have already been planted at Brinsbury College, the South of England Agricultural Society Show Ground, Wiston Estate, Goodwood Estate with pupils from The March School, Rumboldswhyke Primary School in Chichester and the Slindon Estate.
Dr John Godfrey DL, who chairs the team, enlisted his 12 year old grandson Ollie Godfrey (pictured) to plant a beech tree at Northwood on the National Trust’s estate at Slindon.
Ollie, who is in his final year at Dorset House School at Bury, is one of the ‘EcoPrefects’ and is involved in a number of environmental initiatives on the school campus.
He said: “It was great to see what the National Trust are doing at North Wood and to make a contribution to the project.”
Dr Godfrey said: “The beauty of this campaign is that anyone can take part; families in their gardens, schools, community groups, neighbours working together, businesses... everyone is welcome; you can plant one tree, a small copse or a woodland; hedgerows can be included and there is even the option for a new forest of sea kelp off the coast of Worthing to be part of the initiative.
“We are very keen to hear from anyone who is to supporting the campaign – so if you are planning to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’ please tell us about it so that we can make sure your contribution receives the recognition it deserves.”
More information about the Queen’s Green Canopy can be found at www. queensgreencanopy.org. To tell the West Sussex team about your planting plans, send an email and any photographs to carrynix@ gmail.com.