School children have helped plant two cherry trees at Leicestershire County Council’s headquarters to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The pair of Sakura cherry trees are a new addition at County Hall in Glenfield.
They were planted by Leicestershire County Council chairman Councillor Dan Harrison, Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mike Kapur and pupils from nearby The Hall School.
The tree planting was part of the Queen’s Green Canopy campaign, a scheme which hopes to inspire everyone, from families and business to community groups and local councils, to play a part in enhancing the environment.
The initiative encourages planting trees sustainably to leave a legacy for future generations.
Mr Kapur said: “It is an honour for me to plant a tree at County Hall to mark this historic occasion and to leave a legacy - the perfect tribute to Her Majesty’s service to the country for seven decades.
What a special way to mark this significant occasion.
These trees will grow and last for generations, serving as a long-lasting symbol of this special time in history.
The new trees also support our plans to make Leicestershire greener, boost bio-diversity and achieve our goal of becoming a net zero county by 2045, and I am pleased to expand our plan through initiatives like the Queen’s Green Canopy.
Person:County Council chairman Dan HarrisonSamuel Walker, co-Headteacher at The Hall School, said, “The pupils were thrilled to be part of this event and I’m sure it will remain in their memories for years to come.
"We have many more events planned back in school to ensure all children can celebrate this important moment in history."
The county council has a plan to help plant 700,000 trees - one for every county resident - as part of its own ambitious strategy over the next decade.
Anyone wishing to start planning to plant their own tree for the Jubilee, can find out how on the council's visit the council’s Platinum Jubilee webpage.
The website also contains planting advice, information about how to get trees through free and affordable tree schemes and how else you can get involved in local Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Notes to Editor
For information regarding the Platinum Jubilee in Leicestershire, visit: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/platinum-jubilee.
More information on the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is available on its webpages.
Throughout Her reign, The Queen has planted more than 1,500 trees all over the world and has spoken alongside Sir David Attenborough of the importance of trees in the Earth’s future.