Tree planting event held to celebrate the Queen’s Green Canopy
An oak tree was planted in The Whapple in Littlehampton this week to mark the Queen’s Green Canopy.
The ceremonial planting was attended by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex Lady Emma Barnard, Chair of Arun District Council, Councillor Samantha-Jayne Staniforth and Councillor Shaun Gunner, Leader of Arun District Council.
At the event, the oak tree and 69 trees already planted by the council were officially dedicated to the Queen’s Green Canopy, a nationwide initiative created to mark the Platinum Jubilee by planting over a million trees in Her Majesty’s name across the nation during the first planting season, October 2021 to March 2022.
Following the wishes of its Patron, His Majesty The King, the initiative was extended to the end of March 2023 to give people the opportunity to plant trees as a lasting tribute to Her Majesty’s extraordinary service to her country and her people.
Speaking at the event, Cllr Staniforth said: “On behalf of Arun District Council, I would like to welcome you all and thank Lady Emma for her time today at this event to recognise the final and 70th tree that Arun is planting as part of the Queens Green Canopy initiative.
“The council is delighted to have been able to contribute towards this project. With the input of staff from Arun’s Greenspace Service and in particular Arun’s Tree Officer, we have chosen the most appropriate 70 trees across 15 wards to dedicate towards the Queens Green Canopy which we have planted over the last two planting seasons.
“The focus for our contribution has been the planting of native, broad-leaved species, including this oak tree that we are planting today, which we very much hope will provide a lasting and fitting legacy to her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“Arun District Council will also continue its commitment to tackling climate change through the planting of many trees in future years as part of our adopted Tree Planting Strategy.”
The council launched its 10-year tree planting strategy in 2021 to help improve woodland habitats and to increase existing tree canopy and numbers of trees on our land.
We aim to plant more over 33,000 saplings over the next decade, along with 500 mature trees, at more than 80 sites across the district.
Work to deliver the project is well underway, with more than 7,650 trees and whips already planted and taking shape.
