Woodland Trust appeals for new Woods for Diamond Jubilee
Woodland Trust appeals for new Woods for Diamond Jubilee
The Woodland Trust is looking for landowners, of all kinds, to plant a Diamond or Jubilee wood on their own land to celebrate H.M. the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
The Jubilee Woods project not only celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th year on the throne – next to Queen Victoria in 1897 the only other British sovereign to do so – it will also help create valuable habitats for native species.
Woodland protection and safeguarding comes hand in hand with woodland creation, protecting what precious woodland we have, while creating more for the future. The Jubilee Woods project gives everybody the chance to do something to help create a lasting woodland legacy for future generations.
HRH the Princess Royal is Patron of the project and recently visited the Burghley Estate to plant the first tree on the Estate for the Jubilee Woods planting season. The Burghley House Preservation Trust, in partnership with the Woodland Trust, has drawn up plans for a new woodland on the site, which will see over 23,650 trees planted across the estate. Burghley is one of 60 prestigious sites to get Royal approval and their future plans include involving the local community in landscape conservation and adding to the current educational activities helping both schoolchildren and the general public learn more about how wooded areas grow and change.
Georgina McLeod, project head at the Woodland Trust explained that 60 prominent new Diamond Woods with hundreds of smaller Jubilee Woods aims at planting six million trees: “We very much hope that this inspires other landowners and communities to join us in paying a very special tribute to the Queen, while at the same time creating something living and lasting to hand on to future generations. Not only is this a chance to celebrate the Queen’s reign but it’s also a chance for people to improve their home towns, to
facilitate building community spirit.”
The Trust offer free advice on planting a Diamond or Jubilee wood as part of the project and further information can be obtained a dedicated Woodland Creation team on: 08452 935 689 or by logging onto their website: www.jubileewoods.org.uk
Picture Credit: © Reckless Gardener
