People and communities
Walsall turns out in force to plant trees as part of Queen’s Green Canopy
Published on
West Midlands to receive specimen tree to mark King’s Coronation
More than 42,000 trees were planted in Walsall as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) – a nationwide initiative created to mark the Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which closed on March 31, 2023. Across the West Midlands Lieutenancy area, more than 150,000 trees have been planted.
Originally due to conclude in December at the end of the Jubilee year the scheme was extended to March 2023 to include the full tree planting season as a lasting tribute to the late Queen’s extraordinary service to her country and her people.
While the Jubilee project has come to an end, the QGC has announced it will fund the planting of a specimen tree in the West Midlands as part of a programme which will see plantings in each of the 98 lieutenancies across the UK later this year, to mark the coronation of King Charles III.
In Walsall, 42,500 trees have been planted as part of the programme. In Walsall - and also Dudley - as part of Holocaust Memorial Day, single trees were planted as part of the nation-wide project of 80 trees for 80 years commemorating the founding of the Association of Jewish Refugees.
All seven local authorities in the West Midlands participated in the programme which saw children and adults alike donning boots and wielding spades to plant some 150,000 trees (one for every 18 residents of the West Midlands) including whips, standards, fruit trees and hedging.
Businesses have also taken up the challenge – amongst them, Severn Trent who have marked their support for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games with the planting of 72 Tiny Forests, one for each of the competing nations, across the wider West Midlands region.
“ It has been a joyous celebration tinged with the sadness of Her Majesty’s death during her Jubilee Year
I want to thank the thousands of volunteers of all ages who have shown such remarkable support for this great initiative and who have turned out in their droves in both good and bad weather to mark Her Majesty’s great achievements and commitment to service. I know that the Royal Family has been touched by the warmth shown by all those who have participated in the planting of the Queen’s Green Canopy and whose efforts will be appreciated by generations to come
“
Coordinated by West Midlands Lieutenancy, the major undertaking saw a host of community events with more than 40 attended by representatives of the Lord-Lieutenant.
Figures released to date show that 13,000 trees were planted in Birmingham, 38,300 in Coventry, 50,000 in Solihull, 42,500 in Walsall and 36,000 in Wolverhampton. In Walsall and Dudley, as part of Holocaust Memorial Day, single trees were planted as part of the nation-wide project of 80 trees for 80 years commemorating the founding of the Association of Jewish Refugees.
West Midlands Lieutenancy also coordinated the distribution in the West Midlands of 12-trees that originally formed part of the 21-metre/70-ft tall Tree of Trees designed by Thomas Heatherwick and which stood outside Buckingham Palace for the Platinum Jubilee. The Tree of Trees played a starring role when it was illuminated as the principal Platinum Jubilee beacon and consisted of 80 steel “branches” holding 350 native trees in aluminium pots bearing the Queen's cipher.
The momentum is also continuing with, for instance, Sandwell implementing a programme of planting across its six towns in 2023 and beyond whilst in Birmingham Trees for Life has worked with a composer commissioned by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group to write a piece of music based on Trees to be premiered in May 2023.
“The Queen’s Green Canopy has not only been a celebration of the late Queen’s service to the nation but has further raised the important role of trees in the urban environment and has created an ambition that will continue in the years to come,” said Sir John.
ENDS
Note to Editors:
The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) was a UK-wide tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. The QGC initiative was extended to the end of the planting season in March 2023, to give people an opportunity to plant trees to honour Her Majesty.
The West Midlands is the second largest Lieutenancy in England and Wales supporting nearly 3 million people across seven local authorities of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
The Lieutenancy is active across the community supporting projects and initiatives that benefit the community and it helps recognise people through the Honours awards.
It also coordinates Royal Visits and acts as a connection between the civic, military, religious, armed forces and emergency services.
For further information, please contact:
David Clarke DL
E: david-c@clarke-associates.co.uk
M: 07808 735255
OR
Julia Willoughby DL
M: 07739 403951
