In ceremonies across Kent, from village green to community garden, recreation ground to cemetery, 4 future 'Heritage Trees' have been planted to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday.
They are part of a total of 24 future heritage trees that have been planted in commemorative ceremonies, in all 13 districts in Kent, over the last 5 years. This has been done as part of The Conservation Volunteers’ Kent Heritage Trees Project and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project, which celebrates Kent’s rich tree heritage, comes to an end later this month.
Working with volunteers The Kent Heritage Trees Project has:
- Recorded more than 10,000 heritage trees (heritage trees are old, wide, rare or of historical or cultural importance)
- Planted 27,000 trees
- Led ‘woodland wonders education sessions’ and Action Squad sessions for schools
- Created Buggin’about, an environmental toddler group
- Run family events
- Delivered wide ranging classes on biodiversity, photography and arts
- Created tree trails
- Planted 24 future heritage trees
The planting of future heritage trees demonstrates the important contribution trees make not just to our environment, but to the cultural life of our communities. It is therefore significant that the last two trees were planted on 21st April 2016, Her Majesty’s 90th birthday, with rousing renditions of the National Anthem. The first was at Jubilee Hall and Recreation Ground, East Peckham where school children from East Peckham Primary School joined parish and borough councillors and tree and litter wardens to plant a norway maple.
The last future heritage tree, planted at Hadlow Cemetery in the presence of parish and borough councillors and the Hadlow Historical Society, was a most carefully selected, true service tree (Sorbus domestica). The plaque, attached to a commemorative bench next to the tree, stated that the tree was planted “to celebrate our deep gratitude for the true service of Her Majesty the Queen to her people”.
For more information about the Kent Heritage Trees Project visit dev.tcv.org.uk/kentheritagetrees or contact the Kent Heritage Trees team on 01233 666519 or kent-trees@tcv.org.uk
You can also follow the project on Twitter @TCV_Kent or on Facebook