Queen's Tree Canopy Boost

An avenue of young oak trees is Banbury’s newest contribution to the Queen’s Green Canopy.

The new avenue – at Hanwell View Open Space – brings the number of trees planted by Banbury Town Council to be part of the canopy to 50.

Twenty-five maple trees have already been planted at Crouch Hill and these have been formally adopted by canopy organisers. They are now on the project’s official map which shows all trees planted for the canopy across the UK.

The Hanwell View oak trees will be submitted to the canopy’s approval committee later this month and, when accepted, will be added to the map. A commemorative plaque will be presented to the council.

(To view the map, google ‘queen’s green canopy map’ and put Banbury in the search location box).

The canopy is a national tree planting initiative designed to be a living tribute to Queen Elizabeth ll.

It was set up as part of last year’s platinum jubilee celebrations to mark the Queen’s 70-year reign, and was planned to finish on December 31. But after Her Majesty’s death it became a memorial project and its run was extended until the end of March this year.

More than a million trees have so far been planted around the country by councils, organisations, and individuals – and the finished ‘national forest’ will be a lasting reminder of the Queen’s outstanding service to her country and her people.

Banbury’s High Steward Sir Tony Baldry said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy is a wonderful project and I am delighted that Banbury is contributing to it in such a fantastic way. This avenue is quite magnificent.”

Cllr Martin Phillips, chairman of the council’s general services committee, said: “Banbury’s canopy trees are fantastic additions to a unique national project that Banbury Town Council is pleased to support. Our two sites are places we can be proud of.”

Leader of the council Kieron Mallon added: “Banbury has created two living monuments that will be permanent memorials to a much-loved queen. In addition, the canopy is a green initiative and planting trees boosts this council’s commitment to help tackle climate change.”

In the picture, Sir Tony Baldry puts to finishing touches to the avenue while (from right to left) Cllr Phillips, Cllr Mallon, BTC’s landscape officer Julia O’Shea, and the council’s director of the environment Paul Almond look on.