Village plants nearly 600 trees for Queen’s Jubilee

NEARLY 600 trees have been planted in Beanacre to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. 

A team of volunteers helped plant a total of 590 trees in the cricket field behind St Barnabas Church, which will form part of the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’ – a tree planting scheme across the UK in honour of the Jubilee. 

“A thank you to all who turned out to plant whips (trees) around the outside of St Barnabas cricket field,” said St Barnabas churchwarden Stanford Cole. “This whole project evolved from Elizabeth Martin of Beanacre acquiring 30 trees and suggesting that Beanacre joins in the Queen’s Green Canopy project; this morphed into the 590 trees that we have now planted.” 

The tree planting initiative was supported by local residents and the Badger and the Bowerhill Beavers. 

Stanford continues, “Badger and the Bowerhill Beavers – young scouts aged 6 to 8 – planted 65 trees in half an hour on Friday evening, 11th March, (well perhaps mum and dad did the planting ‘assisted’ by the Beavers!) and then enjoyed toasted marshmallows over the campfire. Thanks are extended to the Bowerhill Beavers for the loan of their Gazebo 

“46 adults, plus kids and dogs came along on Saturday 12th March and planted the other 525 trees in just under two hours. 

“Beanacre and St Barnabas Church can be justly proud of this community effort which commemorates an event unique in UK history – the Platinum Jubilee.  These trees will last for 100+ years so our children’s children will look at them and say ‘I’m related to folk who planted these trees’. Thank you one and all.” 

590 native English trees were planted, provided by The Woodland Trust and OVO Energy. Tree types randomly planted are Oak, Silver Birch, Rowan, Wild Cherry, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Hazel, Dogwood, Green Beech, Hornbeam, Alder, Aspen and Goat Willow. The location of the trees has been added to the Queen’s Green Canopy website; visit  https://queensgreencanopy.org/map-education-hub/qgc-map/#/