Trees planted to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Andy Drummond planting trees George Lambton Playing Field. Photo: West Suffolk Council.
The first of West Suffolk’s contribution to the Queen’s Green Canopy has been planted in the district as part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.
West Suffolk Council is dedicating all trees planted this year by the authority to this national initiative.
The Queen’s Green Canopy has been created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.”
The first trees were planted in Newmarket at the George Lambton Playing Fields as part of a successful joint bid with Suffolk County Council for the Government’s Local Authority Treescapes Fund (LATF).
The £29,500 grant, administered by the Forestry Commission, has enabled the planting in Newmarket on public playing fields. The grant will also cover a post planting maintenance programme which will help ensure the trees successful establishment.
The planting consisting of 50 standard trees planted along the northern boundary of the site running parallel with the neighbouring industrial estate. The planting scheme consists of approximately 70% broadleaf deciduous trees (beech and silver birch) and 30% coniferous trees (pine).
This project will establish new trees which will in time help improve both its aesthetic and biodiversity value.
The planting not only helps mark Her Majesty’s Jubilee but is part of the planting being carried out by the Council to help tackle climate change. Carbon storage at maturity will be approximately:
- birch, 3224kg
- beech, 7500kg
- pine, 3513kg
Andy Drummond, portfolio holder for Regulatory and Environment for West Suffolk Council, said: “It is fitting that the first trees of the Queen’s Green Canopy in West Suffolk were planted in Newmarket which has strong links with her majesty who often visits the town.
“West Suffolk Council has a strong track record for tree planting and management which is an important part of our programme to help West Suffolk be carbon neutral by 2030. Trees have great benefits not only for the environment and local habitat but also the mental health and wellbeing of our communities, something that is even more important during the pandemic.”