The Queen’s Green Canopy

The Queen’s Green Canopy was officially launched on 17th May 2021 as part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Virtual Chelsea Flower Show. Her late Majesty was Patron of the RHS.

The initiative encouraged the planting of new trees together with identifying and dedicating a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands and 70 Ancient Trees across the United Kingdom to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.

His Majesty The King’s Lord-Lieutenants and their Deputies were at the heart, championing the initiative and galvanising local participation.

An interactive map was created on the QGC website so that everyone could share their contributions during the planting season October 2021 to March 2022 and from October 2022 until the end of the planting season March 2023.

In March 2022, the end of the first planting season, Her late Majesty issued a message to thank all the people across the nation who had planted trees in her name.

With support from the Woodland Trust, a wide range of organisations and individuals throughout the county were involved in tree-planting activities.

These included charities, councils and parishes, faith groups, the police and armed forces, schools, colleges and universities.

Farmers and landowners also took the opportunity to plant Jubilee avenues and copses.

The Essex Forest Initiative encouraged those involved in their extensive tree-planting programme to dedicate the trees to the QGC.

Essex County Council have been working in collaboration with TVC (The Conservation Volunteers) to plant 78,000 trees during the winter 2022/3 which were added to the QGC interactive map.

Deputy Lieutenants were involved in many QGC planting initiatives across the county. One was involved in the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, specifically for the achievement of 1000 trees being planted in Bangladesh.

Being aware of Her Majesty’s love of the sport, Chelmsford City Racecourse planted a belt of Silver Birches in celebration of her reign together with 3 centrally placed specimen trees.

The Scouts and Guides have carried out several plantings by groups from across the whole county.

Tollesbury Climate Partnership provided an excellent community activity planting nearly 1000 trees in the village with individuals and groups responsible for the stewardship. A commemorative plaque was unveiled in the village by the Lord-Lieutenant.

The Norman Garon Trust have planted more than 5000 trees at their recreational park and cricket ground in Southend-on-Sea.

Great Chesterford Community Orchard have added to their existing planting with over 70 new trees planted.

Tiptree Jam (Wilkin & Sons) which enjoys a royal warrant have planted 3 kms of new hedging and 166 oak trees to mark the Queen’s Jubilee and remarkable life. Wishing to continue the QGC legacy they have recently planted a new Coronation Copse of approximately 800 native hardwood trees and the Lord-Lieutenant formally marked this occasion at the end of April 2023.

We were delighted to be awarded eight trees from the Tree of Trees Sculpture.

This incredible structure, consisting of 350 potted native trees, stood outside Buckingham Palace for the duration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.

The trees were distributed to charities and community areas throughout the county.

In Essex, the chosen recipients were Chelmsford City Parks volunteers, The Norman Garon Trust, Abberton Rural Training, Thurrock Council, Tollesbury Climate Partnership, Trust Links, Harlow Museum and Walled Garden and Acorn Villages.

The Lord-Lieutenant or one of her deputies was present at all the plantings.

Following the death of Her Majesty on 8 September 2022, the QGC continued to promote the sustainable planting of trees but to do so in memory of her dedicated service to the nation.

The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative project has become a living legacy as over three million trees have been planted across the United Kingdom in honour of Her Late Majesty Elizabeth II.

A final specimen of tree was planted in each county across the United Kingdom to mark the coronation of HM King Charles III.

Alongside civic leaders and volunteers and with representation from the City of London Corporation – the Trustee and Conservator of Epping Forest – the Lord-Lieutenant planted the tree allocated to Essex on Theydon Bois Village Green in Epping Forest on Saturday 14 October 2023.