Photo shows the Golden Jubilee plaque at Cheriton Recreation Ground, the site of the Platinum Jubilee avenue of trees.
A flurry of tree planting will take place across the district to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
At last week’s Cabinet meeting, Folkestone & Hythe District Council members agreed to show appreciation for Her Majesty’s 70 years’ service by planting an avenue of trees as part of Her Majesty The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC).
The 12 commemorative London Planes will be at Cheriton Recreation Ground with a plaque marking the dedication placed opposite the existing Golden Jubilee plaque at the park entrance.
The recreation ground was dedicated to the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
F&HDC will encourage individuals and community groups to join in the nationwide QGC – which is run in partnership with The Woodland Trust – by buying individual trees, to apply for free trees and for aftercare advice. As well as inviting the planting of new trees, the QGC will dedicate a network of 70 ancient woodlands across the UK and identify 70 ancient trees.
At the meeting, members adopted a donated tree policy, which will be run along similar lines to the successful donated bench scheme.
Apply for a tree to be planted in memory of a loved one
Members of the public will be able to apply for a tree to be planted in memory of a loved one, or for dedication for another significant event. This will cost £755, which covers the cost of a mature tree, aftercare for three years and lifetime maintenance.
Because the district’s parks, gardens and open spaces are for all to enjoy and are not considered to be “memorial” gardens, no plaques will be put up.
Every year, 10 trees will be available for the public to apply to have planted in council-owned parks and open spaces. These are: Folkestone’s Radnor Park, Cheriton Recreation Ground, Morehall Recreation Ground, the western end of Lower Leas Coastal Park, and Hawkinge Cemetery Green Burial Plot.
The location of the trees will be chosen on a year-by-year basis from these places. The trees will be mainly native broad-leaved and deciduous and a list of species for people to choose from will be available.
Cllr Lesley Whybrow, Cabinet member for the Environment, welcomed the tree-planting campaign, saying it was a “great opportunity to take part in a nationwide tree-planting campaign to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next year.”
Cllr Lesley Whybrow
She added: “There are, of course, many positive impacts for the environment in planting trees. The increase in tree cover will see a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and improve biodiversity, especially if we give consideration to tree species that improve pollinators.”
For details of the QGC, go to https://queensgreencanopy.org