The Queen's Green Canopy

The Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) was an initiative that began in May 2021[1] in the United Kingdom in honour of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. To increase and protect the native tree cover, people were urged to create this 'special gift' for the Queen, to mark her 70 years on the throne.[2]

The Queen's Green Canopy
Duration1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022 (2021-10-01 – 2022-03-31)
1 October 2022 – 31 March 2023 (2022-10-01 – 2023-03-31)
LocationUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Also known as
  • QGC
  • Treebilee
CauseTree planting campaign
Motive
  • Commemorate Platinum Jubilee of the Queen
  • Increase and protect the native tree cover
PatronCharles III
Websitequeensgreencanopy.org

Background

This initiative was led by Cool Earth in partnership with the UK Government and the Woodland Trust. Communities, charities, schools, scout groups, councils and landowners were invited to create a network of individual or specimen trees, tree avenues, copses and woodlands.

The campaign encouraged the planting of healthy native trees that would thrive, enhancing the environment and the landscape for generations to come.[3] To help the environment and make local areas greener, people were urged to plant trees across the United Kingdom to create a lasting legacy in honour of the Queen's leadership.

Alongside this, 70 Ancient Trees and 70 Ancient Woodlands, including some trees more than 1,000 years old and many with links to historical events, were designated as part of the Canopy.

In a statement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:[4]

"Trees have the potential to transform our communities, connect us with nature and provide homes for precious wildlife. They also have a huge role to play in tackling climate change as we build back greener from the pandemic. As we celebrate Her Majesty’s incredible 70 years of service, I encourage everyone to get behind this scheme, and go ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee'."

The Woodland Trust supplied 3 million saplings free to school and community groups, and a pilot scheme to train unemployed young people to plant and manage trees was also created under the auspices of the London environmental college Capel Manor College. The initiative included both individuals planting trees in their gardens and the creation of avenues and copses. Seventy ancient woodlands and 70 ancient trees were also identified as part of the celebration.[5]

Launch and the Planting season

The Queen's Green Canopy was officially launched in May 2021, in advance of the Jubilee year of 2022.[5][1]

The Queen and Prince Charles planted the first tree in March in Windsor Great Park. Charles called it a 'tree-bilee' in a video message and also emphasised the importance of planting the right species in useful places.[5] The two planted another tree at Balmoral Castle on 1 October 2021 to mark the official beginning of the initiative.[6] On 3 October 2021, the first overseas Jubilee Tree was planted by Princess Anne at Hôtel de Charost, residence of the British Ambassador to France.[7] On 30 November 2021, Prince Richard planted the final tree in Rutland's Duke of Edinburgh Memorial Orchard, which was created as a tribute to Prince Philip and is part of the Queen's Green Canopy initiative.[8]

As of January 2022, about 60,000 trees had been planted to mark the Jubilee.[9]

More than one million trees were planted during the first official planting season from October to March. The Countess of Wessex and Forfar planted an elm tree in the Buckingham Palace garden to mark the end of first planting season. In a message marking the end of the first planting season, the Queen said that she was "deeply touched" by the planting of trees in huge numbers and hoped that the "Jubilee trees flourish and grow for many years to come, for future generations to enjoy".[10] A 70 ft (21 m) sculpture called 'Tree of Trees' was erected outside Buckingham Palace for the June celebrations. The sculpture, which contains 350 native British trees in the form of one giant tree, reflects the more than one million trees planted during Green Canopy initiative. The trees will be gifted to selected community groups for planting after the celebrations.[11]

The first tree planting season ended on 31 March 2021. The second season started in October 2022 and ran until the end of March 2023.[10] King Charles III and Prince William planted one of the final trees at Sandringham House. By the end of the second planting season, three million trees had been planted.[12]

70 Ancient Trees and 70 Ancient Woodlands

70 ancient trees and 70 Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom were dedicated to the Queen as part of The Queen's Green Canopy.[13][14][15]

No Name of treeTree speciesLocation Nation Notes
1 The Signing OakEnglish oak
(Quercus robur)		Windsor Great Park, Berkshire England 900 years old
2 The Great Bressingham OakEnglish oak
(Quercus robur)		Bressingham Hall, Norfolk England Tudor-era tree
3 Chatsworth AlderAlder
(Alnus glutinosa)		Chatsworth Park, Derbyshire England One of the oldest alders in the country
4 Queen Elizabeth Oak Sessile oak
(Quercus petraea)		 Cowdray Park, West Sussex England Around 1,000 years old. Queen Elizabeth I rested and took lunch under the Oak in 1591 during a hunting trip.
5 Doddington Sweet Chestnut Sweet chestnut
(Castanea sativa)		 Doddington Hall, Lincoln, Lincolnshire England 350–400 years old
6 Ullswater Silver Birch Silver birch
(Betula pendula)		 Ullswater, Cumbria England Exceptional size and condition for its species
7 St Edward's Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 St Edward's Church, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire England One of two which frame the door of St Edward's Church in Stow-on-the-Wold
8 Lambeth Palace Fig ‘White Marseilles' fig
(Ficus carica)		 Lambeth Palace, London England Originally planted by Cardinal Pole, the last Roman Catholic Archbishop from 1556 to 1558
9 John Keats' Mulberry Black mulberry
(Morus nigra)		 Keats House Museum, London England Found in the garden of Keats House Museum, where renowned poet John Keats is believed to have written some of his most famous poems including ‘Ode to a Nightingale'
10 The Raydale Holly Holly
(Ilex aquifolium)		 Woldside Wood, Raydale Grange, North Yorkshire England Part of a collection growing as an ancient coppice in Woldside Wood
11 The Much Marcle Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 Much Marcle Church, Ledbury, Herefordshire England Has a huge hollow which is unusual to see for an ancient maiden yew
12 The Royal Oak English oak
(Quercus robur)		 Boscobel House, Boscobel, Shropshire England King Charles II hid within this tree to escape the Roundheads following the Battle of Worcester in 1651
13 The Great Veteran Lime Common lime
(Tilia x europaea)		 Wrest Park, Bedfordshire England Planted around 1670
14 Osborne House Cork Oak Cork oak
(Quercus suber)		 Osborne House, East Cowes, Isle of Wight England Planted on 4 December 1847 by Prince Albert at Osborne House, Queen Victoria's holiday home on the Isle of Wight
15 Restormel Sessile Oak Sessile oak
(Quercus petraea)		 Restormel Castle, Cornwall England About 400 years old. It has links to the Civil War, and action took place in 1644 around the tree
16 The Hangman's Tree English oak
(Quercus robur)		 Shane's Castle, Randalstown, County Antrim Northern Ireland One of the largest oaks on Shane's Castle Estate and over 350 years old
17 The Marriage Tree Scots pine
(Pinus sylvestris)		 Finzean Estate,Banchory, Aberdeenshire Scotland About 100 years old and is on the list of Heritage Trees of Scotland
18 The Hirsel Tulip Tree Tulip
(Liriodendron tulipifera)		 Hirsel Estate, Coldstream, Scottish Borders Scotland One of Scotland's oldest surviving tulip trees. It is thought to have been planted in 1742.
19 The Giant European silver fir
(Abies alba)		 Ardkinglas Woodland Garden, Cairndow, Argyll and Bute Scotland Thought to be the largest silver fir in the UK
20 The Brahan Elm Wych elm
(Ulmus glabra)		 Brahan Estate, Dingwall, Ross-shire Scotland Relatively scarce deciduous tree that supports abundant insect life in the forest
21 The Balmerino Sweet Chestnut Sweet chestnut
(Castanea sativa)		 Balmerino Abbey, Newport-on-Tay, Fife Scotland Said to have been planted by Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1565. Dating confirms the tree to be between 390 and 425 years old.
22 The Drumlanrig Douglas Douglas fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii)		 Drumlanrig Castle Gardens, Queensbury Estate, Dumfries and Galloway Scotland Planted in 1829 and is thought to be the first Douglas fir planted in the UK
23 Dumfries House Sycamore Sycamore
(Acer pseudoplatanus)		 Dumfries House, Cumnock, East Ayrshire Scotland Reputed to have been planted in 1599
24 Dundonnell Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 Dundonnell House Gardens, Wester Ross Scotland Believed to be the second oldest yew in Scotland, after the Fortingall Yew in Perthshire
25 Coed Glaslyn Rowan Rowan
(Sorbus aucuparia)		 Coed Glaslyn, Powys Wales Huge in size, which is rare for rowans
26 Curley Oak English oak
(Quercus robur)		 Wentwood, Newport Wales One of the oldest oaks in Wales
27 Plas Newydd Beech Common beech
(Fagus sylvatica)		 Plas Newydd, Llanfairpwll, Anglesey Wales Has a girth of over 10m. It looks as it is several trees fused together.
28 The Buttington Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 All Saints Church, Buttington, Powys Wales Oldest known planting date of any yew tree in Britain. It was planted in 893 CE to commemorate the Battle of Buttington.
29 Llangernyw Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 St Digain's Church Yard, Llangernyw, Conwy Wales Poet Margaret Sandbach of nearby Hafodunos Hall, described a funeral here in 1852
30 Prisk Wood Small Leaved Lime Small leaved lime
(Tilia cordata)		 Prisk Wood, Monmouthshire Wales At first sight the trunks appear to be separate trees but in fact it is all one individual.
31 Newtown Wild Black Poplar Wild black poplar
(Populus nigra ssp. betulifolia)		 Newtown Y Drenewydd, Powys Wales One of the largest wild black poplar recorded among only around 7,000 remaining in the UK
32 Wyesham Oak English oak
(Quercus robur)		 Wyesham, Monmouthshire Wales Thought to have been growing around the time of Geoffrey of Monmouth's birth circa 1095
33 Pulpit Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 St James Churchyard, Nantglyn, Denbighshire Wales John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, preached from here
34 Vangarde Crack Willow Crack willow
(Salix fragilis)		 Vangarde Shopping Centre, York, North Yorkshire England One of the largest crack willows in the UK with a girth of 7.8m
35 The Preston Twin Elm English Elm
(Ulmus procera)		 Preston Park, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex England Around 400 years old
36 Crom Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 Crom Castle, Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh Northern Ireland The Crom Yew is two yews entwined together, one male and one female.
37 The Ashbrittle Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 St John the Baptist Church, Tiverton, Devon England Certified as 3,000 years old
38 Camusnagaul Pollarded Oak Sessile oak
(Quercus petraea)		 Achaphubuil, Lochaber, The Highlands Scotland Composed largely of downy birch and sessile oak with both shrubby and moss ground flora
39 The Old Spanish Chestnut Sweet chestnut
(Castanea sativa)		 Castle Leod, Ross-shire Scotland Planted in 1553 to commemorate a visit by Marie de Guise, Queen of France, and the granting of sasines by Mary, Queen of Scots.
40 The Defynnog Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 St Cynog's Churchyard, Defynnog, Powys Wales Oldest yew in the UK
41 Maesgwyn English Oak English oak
(Quercus robur)		 Maesgwyn Estate, Chirk, Wrexham Wales Thought to date back to the reign of Egbert, King of Wessex, in 802
42 The St Andrews Holm Oak Holm oak
(Quercus ilex)		 University of St Andrews, Fife Scotland Core dating puts the origins of this tree at around 1740
43 Hafod Beech Common beech
(Fagus sylvatica)		 Hafod Uchtryd, Ceredigion Wales Likely to be one of the millions of trees planted by Thomas Johnes
44 Drumlanrig Sycamore Sycamore
(Acer pseudoplatanus)		 Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries and Galloway Scotland One of the largest sycamore trees in the UK
45 Niel Gow's Oak Sessile oak
(Quercus petraea)		 Craigvinean Forest, Perth and Kinross Scotland This tree was likely planted by the “Planting” Dukes of Atholl around 300 years ago
46 The Drumtochty Spruce Sitka spruce
(Picea sitchensis)		 Drumtochty Castle, Kincardineshire Scotland One of the first sitka spruce planted in Europe, and one of the tallest in Scotland
47 Torphichen Horse Chestnut European horse chestnut
(Aesculus hippocastanum)		 Torphichen Churchyard, West Lothian Scotland Located in the churchyard of Torphichen Kirk
48 Hopetoun Field Maple Field maple
(Acer campestre)		 Hopetoun House, West Lothian Scotland Located in Hopetoun House's West Park
49 Tilgate Hawthorn Common hawthorn
(Crataegus monogyna)		 Tilgate, West Sussex England The trunk of the tree is hollow and split as if cleaved by a giant
50 The Florence Court Yew Irish yew
(Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata')		 Florence Court, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh Northern Ireland Though to be mother to millions of offspring yews across the world
51 The Ankerwycke Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 Wraysbury, Berkshire England 2,500 years old
52 Hafod Sequoia Giant sequoia
(Sequoiadendron giganteum)		 Hafod Uchtryd Wales The tallest tree on the Hafod Estate
53 Dundonnell Alder Alder
(Alnus glutinosa)		 Dundonnell, Highland Scotland Large in size, not usual for alders
54 Antony House Black Walnut Eastern black walnut
(Juglans nigra)		 Antony House, Torpoint, Cornwall England Planted in 1785
55 Parent Larch European larch
(Larix decidua)		 Dunkeld Cathedral, Perthshire Scotland One of the largest European larch in the UK. Planted for Duke James of Atholl in 1738.
56 The Great Cedar Cedar of Lebanon
(Cedrus libani)		 Painshill Park, Cobham, Surrey England Thought to be the largest multi-stemmed cedar in Europe
57 Plas Newydd English Oak English oak
(Quercus robur)		 Plas Newydd, Llangollen, Denbighshire Wales Thought to be 400 years old
58 Eddington Veteran Oak English oak
(Quercus robur)		 Turing Way, Eddington, Cambridgeshire England Estimated to be about 430 years old. Likely to have seeded around 1592 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
59 The Tolpuddle Martyrs' Tree Sycamore
(Acer pseudoplatanus)		 Tolpuddle, Dorset England In 1833, six agricultural labourers, later known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs, would meet at this tree to organise efforts to improve working conditions
60 Colesbourne Oriental Plane Oriental plane
(Platanus orientalis)		 Arboretum, Gloucestershire England The tree has been recorded in a number of books, magazine and newspaper articles over many years
61 Robert The Bruce's Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 Loch Lomond, Argyll and Bute, Stirlingshire Scotland Reputedly beneath this yew on the rocky outcrop of Loch Lomond where Robert the Bruce and 200 of his allies rested in the first days of their 14th Century campaign
62 Twisted Beech Common beech
(Fagus sylvatica)		 Tehidy Country Park, Cornwall England Etched with graffiti, some dating as far back as the 19th century
63 The Original Bramley Apple Apple tree
(Malus domestica)		 Southwell, Nottinghamshire England Considered king of the cooking apples and first cultivated in the UK
64 Sherwood Forest Crab Apple Crab apple
(Malus sylvestris)		 Sherwood Forest Country Park, Nottinghamshire England Fenced off to aid protection against increased footfall
65 Baobab Plane London plane
(Platanus hispanica)		 Westgate Gardens, Canterbury, Kent England Largest example of the 'baobab plane' found in Canterbury
66 Newton's Apple Tree Apple tree
(Malus domestica)		 Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire England According to scientific legend, this apple tree inspired Isaac Newton to develop his theory of gravity; a revolution in the history of scientific thought
67 St Melangell's Yew Common yew
(Taxus baccata)		 St Melangell's Churchyard, Pennant Melangell Wales Thought to be over 2,000 years old
68 Willesley Park Sweet Chestnut Sweet chestnut
(Castanea sativa)		 Willesley Park Golf Course, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire England Is of good height and girth
69 The Belvoir Oak English oak
(Quercus robur)		 Belvoir Park Forest, Ulster Northern Ireland Estimated to be 500 years old and is possibly the oldest oak in Northern Ireland
70 The Major Oak English oak
(Quercus robur)		 Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire England Standing for anywhere between 800 – 1100 years. It is the biggest oak tree in Britain, with a canopy spread of 28 metres, a trunk circumference of 11 metres and an estimated weight of 23 tonnes.

Czechia and Slovakia
Occasional stamp for planting 'Queen Elizabeth' rose as a memory of Queen Elizabeth II in Slovakia (Vysoká nad Kysucou). The 7-sided stamp symbolizes 70 years of reign.

Slovak NGO Servare et Manere (SeM) under the auspices of the British Embassy in Bratislava already implemented QGC ideas in Slovakia in 2021. In Carl Gustav Swensson Park in Žilina, British Ambassador Nigel Baker planted the very first Platinum Jubilee tree in Central Europe.[16] Because Slovakia is not a commonwealth country, the Slovak tree could not be entered onto the official list and be marked on the oficial QGC map. After the death of the Queen, SeM initiated the creation of the first and only official place of worship to honour Queen Elizabeth II in Slovakia at this tree in Žilina.[17] On Sunday, the day before the Queen's state funeral, SeM in cooperation with the Vysoká nad Kysucou parish planted a rose of the 'Queen Elizabeth' variety in the local Biblical garden. It was the last public commemoration of the late Queen Elizabeth II in Slovakia.[18][19] Since the QGC project continued until the end of March 2023, SeM approached its British partner the Memorial Association for Free Czechoslovak Veterans to plant a Sister Platinum Jubilee tree at the Brookwood Cemetery as part of a joint project. This sister tree unites three countries and commemorates this year's (2023) 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and independent Czechia and independent Slovakia.[20] Mutual recognition began during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who was the first British monarch to accept the credentials of the first independent Czech and Slovak Ambassadors. It was a unique international planting of platinum trees under the QGC program. The chosen tree for the United Kingdom was a Prunus Padus and was planted by the Czech and Slovak Ambassador.[20] The British tree has been entered on the official QGC map.[21][22]

See also

References
  1. "The Queen's Green Canopy". Cool Earth.
  2. "Queen's Platinum Jubilee: Public urged to plant a tree to help mark monarch's 70-year reign". ITV News. 29 November 2020.
  3. "Britons to plant trees to mark Queen Elizabeth's 70 years on throne". Reuters. 29 November 2020.
  4. Hill, Katie (4 December 2020). "Cool Earth and UK government launch Plant a Tree for the Jubilee initiative". My Green Pod.
  5. Couzens, Jo (15 May 2021). "Campaign launched to mark Queen's Platinum Jubilee". BBC News. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  6. Perry, Simon (1 October 2021). "Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles Team Up for Her First Public Duty in Two Months". People. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  7. Zatz, Sydney (5 October 2021). "Princess Anne wraps up her two-day trip to Paris". Royal Central. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  8. Harby, Chris (1 December 2021). "HRH Duke of Gloucester visits Oakham, Exton and Uppingham and plants trees at Duke of Edinburgh Memorial Orchard, at Rutland Showground, and Uppingham Community College". Rutland and Stamford Mercury. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  9. "Queen's Platinum Jubilee: Celebration plans unveiled by Buckingham Palace". BBC News. 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  10. "Queen 'deeply touched' by the planting of a million Platinum Jubilee trees". The Telegraph. 31 March 2022.
  11. "Platinum Jubilee: Tree sculpture to be erected outside Buckingham Palace". BBC News. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  12. Moore, Matthew (2 April 2023). "King Charles makes rare comments about the late Queen as he shares 'heartfelt thanks' with public". Hello!. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  13. "Ancient trees dedicated to Queen for Platinum Jubilee". BBC News. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  14. "70 Ancient Trees". The Queen's Green Canopy. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  15. "70 Ancient Trees". The Queen’s Green Canopy. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  16. Servare et Manere (6 November 2021). "The very first Platinum Jubilee Tree in Central Europe". Tree of peace / Strom pokoja. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  17. News Agency of the Slovak Republic, TASR. "V Žiline vytvorili pietne miesto na počesť britskej kráľovnej Alžbety II". www.tasr.sk. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  18. The Press Office of the Bishops’ Conference of Slovakia. "Zosnulú kráľovnú Alžbetu pripomenuli v biblickej záhrade na Kysuciach". www.tkkbs.sk. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  19. Servare et Manere (19 September 2022). "Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was commemorated in the Biblical Garden in Slovakia". Tree of peace / Strom pokoja. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  20. Sobola, Marek (22 March 2023). "Platinum Jubilee Sister Project". Tree of peace / Strom pokoja. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  21. "Map". The Queen’s Green Canopy. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  22. Sobola, Marek (25 March 2023). "Queen's Green Canopy virtual commemorative plaque". Tree of peace / Strom pokoja. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
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