Pupils at King Edward’s Junior and Senior Schools have planted two very special trees as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, a unique initiative which invites people across the United Kingdom to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’ as part of a UK-wide tree planting project to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
Everyone from individuals to Scout and Girlguiding groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and corporates have been encouraged to plant trees from October 2021 when the tree planting season begins, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022.
The High Sheriff of Somerset Thomas Sheppard, also a former pupil at the school, together with The Mayor of Bath Councillor June Player, joined pupils as their special guests to help plant a Silver Birch and Beech Tree, which were kindly donated by Bath & North-East Somerset Council.
After the planting took place, The High Sheriff of Somerset Thomas Sheppard said, “It is a delight to see the school’s pupils so actively engaged in the importance of planting trees to help tackle climate change. It is a bonus that the trees we planted will also help celebrate the Green Canopy project for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.”
The Mayor of Bath, Councillor June Player, added, “I was delighted to attend this event with The High Sheriff of Somerset on this very special occasion. As we know, the planting of every tree counts as they are vital in providing oxygen, storing carbon and giving life to the world’s wildlife in these serious climate and environmental times we now find ourselves in. It was most inspiring to hear and see the passion and knowledge that the children all have for looking after our planet and its future.”
Commenting on the plantings, Martin Boden, Headmaster of King Edward’s School, said, “We are delighted to be taking part in this wonderful initiative to commemorate Her Majesty’s long reign. King Edward’s has historic royal connections, founded as it was by a young King Edward VI, and a long association with the city. Adding to the green spaces in Bath in recognition of Her Majesty’s reign therefore feels particularly fitting.”
Greg Taylor, Head of King Edward’s Junior School, said, “Being passionate about looking after the environment and protecting the planet is at the heart of Junior School endeavours. From Eco Days to Science Week and developing the wild area at school to encourage more wildlife, to building a greenhouse using recycled plastic bottles, environmental awareness and action is embedded within the Junior School curriculum and co-curricular activities. Our Year 3 and Year 6 Eco Warriors were therefore delighted to help add to the green spaces at School today. What a tremendous way for our young people to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.”
The newly planted trees have been uploaded onto an interactive map on the QGC website so that everyone can share and inspire others, as well as creating a green canopy of projects to cover the country. You can view the map here: Map & Education Hub – The Queen’s Green Canopy (queensgreencanopy.org)
There are over eighty trees situated on the school’s North Road site, including an English Oak tree presented to the school in 2000 by the Royal Navy to mark the Millennium. The English Oak has always held a close association with the Royal Navy, whose ships were made from oak timbers until the mid-19th century.