Battle of Waterloo connection of sapling planted for Jubilee
Trees planted on Leconfield Estate to mark special occasion
The Leconfield Estate has planted trees as part of the nationwide campaign to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee – with one sapling having links to a pivotal moment in the Battle of Waterloo.
The completion of the planting of Circle Hills Clump in Stag Park near Petworth on the Leconfield Estate took place last Monday by Lord and Lady Egremont to celebrate what is officially known as the Queen’s Green Canopy.
The estate’s head forester Neil Humphris, assisted by two of his team, Brian Carver and Adam Chandler, were ably supported on the day by members of the Sylvia Beaufoy Youth Centre in Petworth, led by Dan Sneller and Karen Chessman.
Jack Ralf, Harry Ralf, Austin Collins and Lloyd Dallyn, pupils at Midhurst Rother College and members of the Sylvia Beaufoy Youth Centre helped stake and put guards round the newly planted trees.
Fortunately the fog lifted just in time, so everyone could enjoy the views. They all commented on what stunning scenery was hiding so close to the London road and a nearby public footpath.
Due to the very early spring, most of the planting had already been carried out by the Forestry team of the estate, comprising Brian, Adam, David Carver, Graham West and Andy Wall.
The commemorative clump for the Platinum Jubilee was planted on the east side of an existing hedge on the crest of the hill facing the main footpath which runs through Stag Park.
A wildlife corridor was also planted on the other side of the hedge to join up two existing woodlands and to provide food for over wintering birds.
Mr Humphris commented that it was really important to leave space within the farmed landscape for wildlife.
The planting was a mixture of oak, chestnut, crab apple, cherry and various different shrubs and the whole enclosed with a native hedge.
As an added point of interest one of the trees being planted was a sweet chestnut sapling, the seed of which had come from an historic tree clump near Hougoumont in Belgium, the site of a famous resistance during the Battle of Waterloo during which one of Lord Egremont’s ancestors was actively involved in shutting the gates of Hougoumont Farm to keep the French soldiers from over-running the farm, a pivotal turning point in the battle.
The Battle of Waterloo was fought in 1815. The French army led by Napoleon was defeated by two of the armies one of which was a British-led coalition under the command of the Duke of Wellington.
The battle marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars and ended Napoleon’s rule as Emperor of the French.
For all the latest news from across West Sussex, visit www.sussexworld.co.uk. See page 10 for more jubilee news.
n