More than fifty trees have been planted by Banbury Town Council as a living memorial to Queen Elizabeth ll.
The trees are part of the Queen’s Green Canopy – a nationwide tree planting initiative set up as part of Her Majesty’s platinum jubilee celebrations in 2022. Councils, schools, community groups and individuals became involved and more than three million trees have been planted across the UK.
The project should have ended in December 2022 – the end of the jubilee year – but was extended until March 2023 following a request by King Charles. The finished ‘national forest’ will be a magnificent and lasting tribute to the late Queen’s outstanding service to her country and her people.
Banbury’s trees are at two main sites.
Twenty-five Acer Campestre ‘Queen Elizabeth’ trees are flourishing at Crouch Hill Open Space. They are a variety of field maple trees and well-suited to Banbury’s soil. The planting produced a circle of new trees around some well-established oak trees.
Hanwell View Open Space is the setting for a grand avenue of oak trees and is a wonderful addition to the canopy.
Both sites have been accepted by the canopy project’s organisers and are now officially part of the new ‘forest.’ Certificates of acceptance have been issued by the organisers.
Single trees have also been planted in parks and open spaces including People’s Park, Southam Road Cemetery, and Hardwick Hill Cemetery.
