Basingstoke ObserverCELEBRATIONS to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee have begun in Basingstoke and Deane as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy.
The Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr Onnalee Cubitt was joined by distinguished guests on Friday 11 March to plant a Turkish Hazel tree near to the children’s play area in War Memorial Park.
Guests included Lady Portal MBE DL, representing the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, the High Sheriff of Hampshire Mr Phillip Sykes, the Rt. Hon Maria Miller MP, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Leader Cllr Simon Bound and Chief Executive Russell O’Keefe as well as representatives from Basingstoke’s communities.
The Turkish Hazel is a large, stately tree ideally suited to park landscapes and it will occupy the perfect position, providing a place for families to enjoy some shade while visiting the park during the summer months.
The Queen’s Green Canopy encourages communities, groups and individuals to enhance the environment and to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service by planting new trees across the globe.
Lady Louisa Portal commented: “I am delighted to be planting a tree, together with the Mayor, on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant. The Queen’s Green Canopy is a wonderful project to honour Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and I hope this symbolic tree will give pleasure to many people in the years to come.”
Cllr Cubitt added: “I was honoured to plant a tree on behalf of the borough to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee not only to add to The Queen’s Green Canopy but also to leave a legacy for future generations to remember the longest serving monarch in English history. Seventy years of service is a remarkable achievement and it is a privilege to play a small part in marking this by planting a tree in one of our most popular parks, for all to enjoy.”
Elsewhere in the borough, The Farleigh Wallop Estate are to plant 1,300 trees to mark the occasion.
Lord Lymington has designated three sites, totalling three acres, on the Estate in Cliddesden, Farleigh Wallop and Ellisfield and invited residents of each Parish to plant a tree in commemoration of this special year. He commented: “The Platinum Jubilee is an important occasion for the country and we are proud to be able to mark the occasion in this special way. We’re planting 1,300 trees across the Estate, more than one for every month of the Queen’s life, recognising her extraordinary reign whilst creating a long lasting trio of community woodlands within the Estate.”
Planting took place at each site on 12 March and tree species including Oak, Wild Cherry, Silver Birch and Field Maple were included. The trees have been specially selected to reflect those which already feature in the landscape, providing long lasting wildlife habitats and increasing biodiversity alongside acting as a carbon sink to help tackle the climate emergency.
Pupils from Park View Primary School joined Lord and Lady Lymington and the Estate team to plant trees at the Farleigh Wallop site close to St Andrews Church.
Lucy Hollyman, Deputy Headteacher at Park View Primary in Basingstoke said: “Park View Primary are excited to take part in the Jubilee Tree Planting at the Farleigh Wallop Estate. The school is planning lots of activities to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee this year, including a Royal Cake Competition and the Park View Street Party.”
Cliddesden Parish Council and Cliddesden Community Conservation Group will be planting with local residents.
Details are yet to be confirmed but there will be opportunities for residents to come together to celebrate the historic milestone within their communities. Events will also take place nationally across a four-day weekend from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June, including a birthday parade, a service of thanksgiving, a derby at Epsom and a party at Buckingham Palace broadcast by the BBC.
You can find out more about the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations in Basingstoke at: www.lovebasingstoke.co.uk and learn more about The Queen’s Green Canopy at: www.queensgreencanopy.org.
